Government intervenes in land dispute

The Daily Trust reports that the Nasarawa State Government has promised to pay compensation to the Kafin Moyi community for their lands which was acquired to construct a sugar cane plantation and refinery in Tunga. Following protest by the communities affected by the project, governor Umaru Al-Makura met met stakeholders from the affected communities and the Dangote Sugar Company and agreed that the Ministry of Lands would carry out a detailed surveillance exercise of the area. Following recommendations by the Ministry, he said government would take possession of all the disputed property and exercise powers conferred on it by the Land Use Act. This will 'ensure peace, security and harmonious co-existence among the affected communities', as well as ensuring the communities and the Nasarawa state benefited from the project.