Construction work has intensified on the $1.96 billion Kano-Maradi rail project despite the strained relations between the Federal Government and the military junta in Niger after a lull.
The Nigerien government had accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of plotting to destabilise the francophone country.
The project, partly financed by the Africa Development Bank, will run through 122 communities in 25 Local Government Areas across three states in Nigeria, and 11 communities in three communes in Niger Republic.
Approved by the Federal Executive Council in September 2020, the 283.75 km standard gauge railway line will connect Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states in Nigeria with Maradi in Niger Republic.
Findings by The PUNCH indicate that 3,252 displaced persons have yet to be compensated three years after the project commenced.
A settlement audit report prepared by the project consultant, Windforce Safeguards Limited, said the victims include farmers whose farmlands are on the rail line’s right of way and several residents who had been forced to leave their ancestral homes.
The rail project, which would be completed in 2026, was expected to displace 12,695 homes and 2,064 assets on the railway corridor, according to a study commissioned by Africa Finance Corporation.
Out of the N20.325 billion earmarked for asset valuation, N12.307 billion had been paid to 16,032 of the 19,284 enumerated persons.
About 5, 531 persons are dissatisfied with the compensation paid to them.
Also, residents of Dalli, Yammawar Wanzamai, Tsadoji, Fitare, Wailare, Firji, Danheji, Yamel, muduru, Durbi, Guru and Gamoji communities within the rail corridor in Kano State complained about the meagre compensation they were paid for their assets.
Speaking to The PUNCH, Babangida Idris, who hails from Garo in Mashi local Government area of Katsina state, said he and seven other farmers have yet to be paid despite the promises made by officials.
“I and seven other affected persons were invited to the palace of our district head where the officials promised to ensure that we get our compensation within the shortest time possible. This is the third month since we had the meeting but not a kobo has been given to the eight of us”, Idris lamented.
He appealed to the authorities to expedite action on the payment to enable them to purchase another farm or use the money for other businesses.
“It’s unfortunate that we are denied the opportunity of cultivating our farms while the compensation is not forthcoming”, he said.
Another farmer, Alhaji Nuhu Idi from Dokawa village also in Mashi LGA, expressed dissatisfaction with his compensation, saying he was short-changed.
“I am not satisfied with what I was paid. Two of us were paid N500,000 which we shared N250,000 each’’, he disclosed.
According to him, about N60, 000 was deducted as bank charges from the N500,000 they were paid.
“We collected the money because we had no choice. If we had rejected it, we would have lost it entirely because we don’t know if we will get additional compensation,” he said.
According to him, a similar fate befell other farmers in the area as the compensation was grossly inadequate, citing the devaluation of the naira and the economic situation in the country.
He accused the contractors in charge of the compensation of cheating the farmers, noting that no fewer than 50 persons were under-paid.
Mohammad Danladi of Yanzaki village in Jigawa State said he was compensated for his farmland, but added that the contractor has yet to pay for the additional farmlands acquired for construction of an overhead bridge.
“They came recently and took measurements of some farms where they want to construct an overhead bridge. We are yet to be paid for that one”, Danladi said.
Speaking in the same vein, Adamu Abdullahi of Kadandani village, Makoda LGA, Kano State, confirmed receiving some money but regretted that it was below his expectations.
“The people were here again where they took measurements of our farms including my farm for the construction of a bridge. We are still expecting the compensation”, he said.
Also speaking on the issue, Danladi Isah, another farmer and Ward Head of Kadandani village explained that many people were unhappy with the evaluation of their farmlands.
Hanafi Hambali from Rimin-Guza village in Rimi LGA, Katsina State, said some officials collected his details about four months ago, but he has not been paid to date.
“They (officials) came here three times about four to five months ago and collected our details and assured us that we would be paid soon. The second time they returned, they gave us some papers and reassured us that the payment will be made in no distant future. But up to this moment, we have not received anything”, Hambali said.
A farmer in Yanzaki village of Roni LGA, Jigawa State, Ibrahim Abubakar, confirmed receiving compensation for his farmland. “Yes, I was compensated and I don’t have any complaints”, he said.
The head of Kayauki village in Batagarawa, Katsina State, Muhammadu Hamisu confirmed that all the farmers in the area had been compensated.
“We were compensated a few months back and we were satisfied with what was paid to us. We don’t have any complaints regarding the payment”, he said.
Another farmer, Bishir Lado who hails from Makurda village in the Rimi LGA of Katsina State, also confirmed receiving the compensation.
“We were compensated in this area and were also satisfied with the payment”, he added.
The final settlement audit report released in September 2024, recommended a review of the compensation amount paid to the victims, noting that the valuation of their assets was based on the ‘depreciation valuation method’ contrary to the ‘replacement valuation method’ stipulated in the Resettlement Action Plan and AfDB policy.
The adoption of the depreciated valuation method in line with the Land Use Act ‘’impoverished the PAPs more which is against the SDGs and does not satisfy the AfDB policy”, the audit declared.
It criticised the valuation method stating that the AfDB valuation of assets did not require a depreciated valuation method because the AfDB policy makes it clear that “If people living in the project area are required to move to another location, the borrower shall offer the choice of replacement property of equal or higher value, with security of tenure, equivalent or better characteristics, and advantages of location, or cash compensation at full replacement cost”.
The report noted, ‘’There is no negotiation with the PAPs (Project Affected Persons) about the exact amount that she/he will be receiving. Most PAPs indicated that they learned their amount of compensation only at the time of disbursement.
‘’The affected assets were not geo-referenced, as witnessed during the audit exercises from the asset enumeration forms issued to the PAPs.
‘’The audit team verified that no PAPs signed the indemnity certificate as a party to the compensation process as the community indemnity certificate was issued and signed off by the village heads.
‘’Furthermore, there is an issue of diversion due to the engineering design of the alignment after compensation payment, as witnessed in Yan Zaki, Unguwan Kusa, Makurda, and Durbi communities. Thus, the new PAPs are yet to be compensated”.
The audit recommended that compensation should be negotiated transparently with the affected individuals and disclosed, using the mandatory AfDB individual agreement form in the future.
It confirmed that 32 per cent of those interviewed were dissatisfied with the compensation which was deemed insufficient.
‘’These PAPs mentioned that their compensation amounts were insufficient. They cited calculation criteria as one of the reasons for the inadequate compensation.
“Seventy-eight per cent are not aware of how their assets were valued as the PAPs indicated that they learnt the exact amount of compensation only at the point of disbursement”, the audit further said.
It frowned on delays in compensation payments, especially in areas where there was a realignment of the route, adding that new set of displaced persons have not been compensated in Yan Zaki, Unguwan Kusa, Makurda, and Durbi communities, while communal assets such as the community cemetery had not been paid for in Chedi Ingawa, Katsuhu, Chadi, Yamel and Duru communities.
The Ministry of Transportation and Nigerian Railway Corporation officials failed to speak on the complaints by the victims.
Meanwhile, The PUNCH in Kano state, visited the project site around Kwanar Dangora village reports that work had been completed in the area.
A resident of Kwanar Dangora village, Abdullahi Dogo, said work on the rail project resumed a few weeks ago after it was suspended for some time.
Another resident, Bala Doka, revealed that the workers have moved to Dawanau area along Daura road en route Jigawa State.
The PUNCH also visited the project site in Jigawa State and observed the workers actively proceeding with construction work.
Residents of Dundubus, Sabon Garin Dan Malam villages and Shuwarin, and Andaza towns in Jigawa and Dutse environ were excited by the project’s progress.
A resident of Dundubus, Malam Musa said, “It’s our hope that the project would bring economic benefits and improve transportation in the region.
“We are very happy that the work has started again. We hope that when the project is completed, it will bring economic benefits to our community. We expect to see more businesses and jobs opportunities”.
A trader in Sabon Garin Dan Malam, Nura Garba shared a similar optimism about the project’s potential impact, saying, “I believe the railway will make it easier for us to transport our goods to other places. It will also attract more customers to our community. We are looking forward to seeing the positive changes it will bring”.
A community leader in Shuwarin town in the Kiyawa LGA, Alhaji Abdullahi Shuwarin, emphasized the importance of the project for the region’s development.
According to him, “The railway project is a game-changer for our community. It will connect us to other parts of the country and facilitate trade. We hope that the government will complete the project on time”.
A farmer in Andaza village, Kiyawa LGA, Malam Adamu Aminu, underscored the potential benefits of the project for farmers like himself.
“With the railway, we will be able to transport our farm produce to other markets easily. It will also reduce the cost of transportation. We are hopeful that the project will improve our livelihoods”, Aminu added.
