Farmers in Takalifiya community of Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State have expressed delight over the payment of compensation to farmers whose farm lands were acquired by a firm, aimed at boosting the economic growth of the local government, as well as the state at large.
The village head of Takalafiya, Alhaji Usman Sarki, made the commendation recently, during the payment of compensation, held at Lapai Emirate council.
Alhaji Sarki noted that his people are predominantly farmers, adding that the compensation will go a long way to assist the farmers in going into large-scale farming.
The village head attributed the successes recorded since the beginning of the negotiations to the leadership role played by the state governor, Mohammed Bago and Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Umaru Bago Tafida III, who ensured that the interest of the farmers were protected in the whole processes.
‘We were really excited about the process. My people were satisfied, everybody was paid for the crops on his/her farmland accordingly. Our governor and the emir stood by us. We thanked them,’ Usman said.
Acting Secretary of Lapai Emirate Council, Saidu Abdullahi, has expressed satisfaction over the payment of compensation for the cash crops to farmers, describing the process as historic.
Abdullahi, who conducted the process, praised the management of the firm for making the process a reality, urging them to adhere to all the terms of the agreement entered into with the locals, just as he commended the people of Takalafiya as well as the community leaders for their cooperation.
Earlier, the Chief Operating Officer, Elin Group Limited, Hassan Isah, disclosed that the company was in the area for the mining activities, highlighting that the company has obtained its mining license which was approved by the Federal Government and will soon go into full-fledged mining operations in the community.
‘In line with the Mining Act, there were some requirements that had to be meat, which we have met all of them. The first was the community development, specifying what project we have for them and that has been taken care of since August. We have rolled out all our proposed projects before everybody and agreement to that effect was signed accordingly at the Emirate Council in August 2025,’ Isah said.