Scandal has hit the ongoing construction of the new multi-billion naira correctional facilities at Karshi as a quary company, Nino Corporation Ltd, has accused authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service of invading its land and it’s demanding for full compensation.
The company said it’s business has nosedived as it has incurred huge losses since NCS’ trespass on it’s property.
The new correctional facility is located at a remote community between Karu Local Government in Nasarawa State and Karahi area within Abuja Municipal Council Area of Abuja.
The company which said it has been ordered to vacate its own property is asking for adequate compensation and time from the NCS in order to relocate to another site; however, its request has not yet been attended to, neither has it been invited for negotiation.
According to finding during the recent inspection tour of the project by the Minister of Interior, Mr. Aregbesola Abdulrauf, in company of the acting Comptroller-General of NCS, Haliru Nababa, the Correctional Service authorities did not show any evidence to the company to prove that the Service lawfully owns the land where the multi-billion naira facility is being built.
The disputed land is a solid mineral area under the control of the federal government, which allocated the quary site to Nino Corporation Ltd through the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Mineral Development.
The NCS management was intially backed by the Federal Capital Territory Development Administration (FCTA) over the issue and had issued a vacation notice to Nino Corporation Ltd.
However, FCTA later found out that it acted in error as Nino Corporation Ltd argument was in line with Section 1 of the Land Use Act of 1978, Sections 44 (3) of the 1999 Construction and Section 1 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
The quary site which blasts and grinds rocks is now in the middle of NCS facility and it is unsafe for any residential and official accommodation.
Asked by newsmen whether the company has been contacted by either the Ministry of Interior or NCS for any negotiation, Mr. Nino Abohai, Chairman/CEO of Nino Corporation Ltd, said his request to have a meeting with the government officials has not been granted.
When the NCS was contacted, the CG’s aide, Lawal Jangebe, was said to have responded through phone call saying that his boss, Mr. Haliru Nababa, had not yet approved the request of the company’s chairman to have appointment for the two parties to meet and discuss Nino Corporation Ltd’s demand for compensation.
Rather, the NCS is alleged to have resorted to harassing the quary company to relocate from the site.
According to Mr. Abohai, “the operation and fortunes of the company have been crippled as a result of the trespass.
“This company was doing very well and we had about 70 employees and a big market has been adversely affected.
“The company is disposed to moving to another location but we need compensation to enable us do so.
“We need justice and fairness because my business is crumbling. The NCS invaded my business premises and scattered my huge investments”, he said.