Wukari landowners decry non-payment of compensation, cite rising hardship

Landowners whose property was acquired for the establishment of the Federal University, Wukari, have raised concerns over the prolonged non-payment of compensation by the Taraba State government, alleging that the delay has led to widespread hardship in the area.

In a statement issued to journalists in Jalingo on Sunday, the landowners, through their solicitor, Barrister P. M. Shagnah, lamented that the continued delay has driven many into hunger and poverty, while forcing some students in the host community to drop out of school due to financial constraints.

Despite several appeals to relevant authorities, the landowners said there has been no concrete action to resolve the matter.

They noted that although Governor Agbu Kefas had partially complied with a Taraba State High Court judgment by paying 50 percent of the compensation awarded, the remaining balance must be paid urgently to alleviate their suffering.

“Our clients have exhausted their patience after repeated pleas to the government yielded no results. We urge the governor to prevent further misunderstanding and hardship by ensuring the remaining payment is made without further delay,”; the statement read.

Barrister Shagnah recalled that in a post-judgment agreement reached in 2023, it was resolved that a total compensation of N205 million would be paid to the landowners in seven installments, from December 2023 to July 2024.

“Unfortunately, we are now in July 2025, and a balance of about N80 million remains unpaid,”; he said. “It is important to emphasize that this agreement has been grossly breached for over a year now, despite our clients’ willingness to accept a reduced amount for the sake of timely settlement.”;

The landowners warned that further delays could worsen socio-economic conditions in the community and fuel rising discontent among affected families.