The Ajaokuta, Kaduna, Kano gas pipeline project might have suffered setbacks on the Kano connecting routes as farmers whose farmlands were acquired for the planting of the pipelines, alleged fraud in the payment of compensations.

Government acquired farmlands and houses belonging to farmers and other villagers in one of the affected Kano communities, Magami close to Tamburawa in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area, for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) AKK Gas Pipeline Projects, but farmers said what they are to be paid is not commensurate with their farmlands.

A day after the payment of their compensations, to take place in a bank in the Kano metropolis, 36 people who received compensations for their farms and houses, cried foul over allegations of plans to pay them meagre sums for properties worth millions of naira.

A team from the NNPC, led by Muhammad Isah representing the Group Managing Director (GMD), have met in the village on Wednesday evening along with the Kano State Government committee on the AKK project to announce to the farmers the procedures of the payments.

In his address, the leader of the Kano AKK Committee, Hon Mahmud Tofa, explained that the Kano State Government has agreed with the NNPC to make payments of the compensation as provided by the state’s laws and not by what the NNPC proposed. He added that as part of the arrangement for the projects, all states involved are to establish committees to put an eye on the projects at their levels while he heads the Kano committee.

“The Federal Government instructed that committees be set up in affected states to keep an eye and ensure that the people involved are duly compensated.

“The Terminal Gas Station (TGS) is going to be established in this community and you are going to be the beneficiaries as it will expand your individual economy and provide job opportunities for the people.

“My office located at the Government House is open for everyone. Whosoever has any complaint is welcome as we will ensure everyone is duly compensated,” he said.

However, with all the assurances by the team, those to be compensated were still doubtful about the payments and how they are going to take place. Those who spoke at the meeting said they, among themselves, expressed doubt saying an earlier batch were not properly compensated and they are afraid of suffering the same fate.

“We have seen that there are noticeable differences from the treatment meted on an earlier group in the ways we are being treated. You should not expect any cooperation from us if we are not duly compensated because the only venture we know in life is farming and you have taken over our lands” a farmer Muhammad Haruna said as he expressed doubt.

A veteran who has been a farmer all his life Labaran Audu complained to newsmen at the venue that he was not sure what he would receive the next day

He said his land of 2,323sqm was initially valued at N6 million. It was later reviewed to N4.6 million and he was convinced to accept the rate. A day before the payment, he was told that he would receive only N170,000. The aged man was so confused and worried.

“My land is said to be 2,323sqm and was valued at N6m. The leader of the committee told me that it has been reviewed and revalued at N4.6m and he begged me to accept which I did. As the payment of compensation is coming up tomorrow, they are now saying that I am going to receive N170,000,” the old man said.

A group leader among the farmers, who did not want his name mentioned, said there was lack of proper communication in the whole process and the farmers are the victims, suggesting the participation of anti-graft bodies in the process.