Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, yesterday clarified that his position on proposed demolition of illegal structures, saying his mission “is to recover government lands from those that acquired them illegally in schools and hospitals not to demolish as being peddled.”

He said his government is not about demolition, and as such the people of Kaduna State should not entertain fear that he is out to demolish their houses.

The governor spoke through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, while briefing journalists at the Government House. He said the exercise his government is kick-starting today (Wednesday) is recovery of schools and hospitals lands from illegal occupants.

According to El-Rufai, “Since after the town hall meeting in Zaria on Sunday, some people have started campaign of calumny that El-Rufai has come to embark on demolition of houses in Kaduna, but to set the records straight, we are only asking those who illegally occupied government owned institutions’ lands to vacate the land.

“This government cannot allow the encroachment of schools and hospitals lands to continue. For instance, when we visited the state library in Zaria and Alhudahuda College, private buildings have almost taken over the institutions. This has serious effect on the learning atmosphere of such institutions.”

The governor added, “Alhudahuda College for instance is over 100 years in existence, but if we allow the type of encroachment going on there to continue, the school might go into extinction in the next 30 years. We have given them notice and it will expire Wednesday, 5 August. We will only recover the lands for the future of our children. The public lands belong to the good people of Kaduna State and we must recover it before is late.”

The governor however told the public to ignore the people weeping sentiment that his government is out to demolish their houses adding that the recovery of land exercise will commence today after the expiration of quit notice given to the occupants.

•Photo shows Gov El-Rufai.

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