The Gombe State Government has approved the sum of N2.4 billion as compensation to property owners affected by the ‘Three Arms Zone’ projects in the old Bauchi Motor Park in Gombe metropolis.
The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Zubairu Mohammed Umar disclosed this to newsmen after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
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He said the approval would facilitate payment to property owners affected by the planned construction of an ultra modern State Secretariat, High Court and House of Assembly Complex, “to be regarded as the state’s Three Arms Zone.”
Barr Zubairu said the government would use the premises of the old Bauchi motor park, relocated to the Ibrahim Dankwambo Mega Motor Park, to build the new complex.
He said, “Following the decision of the state government to construct an ultra modern secretariat for the state, high court complex and house of assembly which will be like a three-arm zone, some property would be affected and the major ones are about seven.
“In this regard, the state government engaged estate valuers and they brought a report which was deliberated upon today and approval made for compensation.
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“The total sum, open market value is N2.4 billion which is far higher than the first value of N1.6billion.
“The government has done so that the owners will have the opportunity of repossessing these kinds of property to be demolished in another location and they will not suffer any financial loss.”
The commissioner enjoined the affected property owners to appreciate the gesture, and urged the residents of the state to support the government’s policies and programmes.
On his part, Commissioner for Higher Education, Mohammed Shettima said the SEC had approved the commencement of academic activities at the Dukku Campus of the Gombe State University, to accommodate the Faculty of Environmental Sciences.
He said the facility would run four programmes including BSc Quantity Survey, BSc Architecture, BSc Estate Management and BSc Building.
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He said that as part of the requirements by the National Universities Commission (NUC), 52 staff would be recruited, adding that the SEC had approved N16.9 million as their monthly salaries.
“So the annual personnel cost is approved to be N202.8million; also approved is N534.4million to be used for procurement of equipment for the campus,” the commissioner said.
