The Kano state Ministry of Land has uncovered and stopped the construction of a private airstrip by an individual in Arewawa Bebeji local government area Kano state.
The government said it has uncovered the illegal construction project, which it said had blocked the communities around the area from accessing their farmlands.
Hamid Sidi Ali, Secretary of Taskforce on Development Control of the ministry, during a visit to the project’s site, said it had received reports from members of communities around the area that they have just seen the construction works began.
He said the project had blocked the communities from access to their farmlands and nearby villages, inflicting hardship on them.
On receiving the report from members of Arewawa and Allon Sarki communities, the ministry swung into action to check and take action.
“This is why we have to come to verify and investigate and to see how we bring the issue to an end.
“And as, you know, we have already brought notice boards to stop whatever development is going on, and also provide access for the villages and owners of the lands and their farmlands to continue to earn their livelihood,” the Secretary said.
Ali noted that the ministry is yet to know the identity of the person responsible for the construction of the airstrip, calling on him to bring himself forward for further investigation.
“We hereby invite the said owner of the land to come forward for investigation. From a record, there is no approval from the ministry. There is no approval for any construction of this airstrip. So we need him forward,” he said.