The Jigawa State Government has issued a stern warning to local government chairmen and traditional rulers over the illegal allocation of land, particularly in forest and grazing reserves across the state.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Sagir Musa Ahmad, during a press briefing on Monday following the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Umar Namadi.
Ahmad explained that the move is part of efforts to preserve the integrity of forest and grazing reserves for future generations and prevent the misuse of public land.
He revealed that the State Committee on the Retrieval of Illegally Allocated Lands, led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), had briefed the council on the steps taken so far to address the challenge of unlawful land allocations.
“The committee has issued letters of admonition to all 27 local government councils and to the Secretaries of the five emirate councils—Hadejia, Kazaure, Gumel, Ringim, and Dutse,” Ahmad stated. “This is to convey the government’s seriousness and determination to take disciplinary action against anyone found culpable.”
The commissioner also said the state is seeking the full cooperation of the emirate councils to ensure strict compliance by all stakeholders in safeguarding forest and grazing lands as essential public assets.
The SSG further clarified that, by law, only the state governor has the authority to allocate land or forest reserves for any purpose. Any individual or institution acting outside this legal framework, he warned, will face stiff penalties.
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