Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority has moved to end the prolonged dispute over the ownership and management of the Bakalori Colony Residential Complex in Talata Mafara, Zamfara.
The authority reaffirmed its ownership of the estate during a meeting with residents and management of the Bakalori Irrigation Scheme.
The two-hour meeting, held at the Bakalori Irrigation Scheme Office in Talata Mafara, was attended by a five-man delegation from the SRRBDA headquarters led by its Executive Director, Planning, Hon. Kabiru Ladan Maigoro.
Maigoro, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, said the authority was the legitimate owner of the residential complex and urged residents and tenants to recognise it as their only landlord.
He said, ‘The Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority is the rightful owner of the entire residential complex, and no other entity has ownership rights over the estate.’
He further said the delegation had come with assurances from the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the authority on the resolution of the matter.
Maigoro urged the residents to henceforth deal directly with the authority on issues concerning the estate.
‘Residents and tenants of the colony should recognise the authority as the sole landlord and refrain from regarding any other person or institution as their landlord,’ he said.
Reacting to the development, the Colony Estate Community expressed appreciation to the authority for intervening in the matter, describing the reaffirmation as an important step towards ending years of uncertainty.
The community leader, Mallam Abubakar Dakin Gari, said the development had restored confidence among residents who had been affected by the dispute.
‘This intervention has brought renewed hope to residents following years of uncertainty and tension over the ownership and administration of the complex,’ Dakin Gari said.
The community alleged that Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara, had previously exploited the ownership dispute to intimidate some residents and deepen political divisions within the estate.
The residents expressed hope that the latest position of the SRRBDA would restore peace, unity and harmonious coexistence in the Bakalori Colony.
The SRRBDA is one of Nigeria’s 12 River Basin Development Authorities under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, with responsibilities covering irrigation development and agricultural activities.