Hon. Adamu Hashimu Ranga, the lawmaker representing Ningi/Warji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has been accused by farmers in Warji Local Government Area of seizing their farmlands for a constituency project without providing the promised compensation.
Hon. Ranga has nominated and secured a constituency project in Warji aimed at tackling gully erosion at Dansai community of the local government.
WikkiTimes gathered that the lawmaker has delegated his aide on ground in Warji to negotiate compensation to the farmers whose farms were affected in the project.
The project, which will enhance water flow from Katanga to Dansai has reportedly consumed over N88 million.
According to WikkiTimes findings, the federal government, through the Federal College of Horticulture in Dakin Kowa, Gombe State, paid N26.5 million to KHH Best Construction Company Ltd on July 31, 2024, as the first tranche of the project. A second payment of N61.9 million was made to the same contractor on November 4, 2024.
While the project is expected to address the community’s erosion and flood challenges, farmers whose lands were taken over or encroached upon have been left without compensation, despite prior agreements.
Some farmers revealed that Hon. Ranga’s aides and associates negotiated compensation plans on his behalf, but the agreements remain unfulfilled since September 2024.
The Affected Farmers
Some farmers who spoke to WikkiTimes said all their farms had been assessed, valued and agreed on mode of payment but not executed. They argued that they had repeatedly reached out to the committee members that the lawmaker had set up which include his aide and traditional ruler in the community.
According to Sabiu Bako, his farm was destroyed without giving him the opportunity of an extended time to harvest. ” They destroyed our rice and guinea corn to make way for the drainage system. We agreed on compensation prices with Hon. Ranga’s representatives, including Danjuma, his coordinator in Warji, and the village head of Ranga. They promised to pay N250,000 for my land, but nothing has been done.
“When we complained on social media, his aides told us to go to court, but we won’t. However, there will be a time for payback. We are deeply hurt because they didn’t allow us to harvest our crops.”
Another farmer, Kamal Abdullahi explained that they wanted to resist destruction of their farm crops but were convinced that it will be paid shortly.
“Initially, we resisted the project, refusing to let them destroy our crops and take our land without compensation. However, the elders and community leaders persuaded us to allow it. Our crops—corn, soybeans, and cowpeas—were destroyed.”
He added that his grandfather who was supposed to be compensated with N350,000 has been sick but cannot afford to take him to the hospital. “We urge the lawmaker to settle us so we can take care of him.”
Muawiyya Ali, another farmer whose land was affected, said his land had been encroached beyond what was initially agreed on. He decried that the lawmaker’s aide in Warji, Alh. Adamu Shuaibu (Danjuma) said there is no definite time for the payment when he last reached out.
” They even went beyond the agreed-upon areas. Initially, we rejected their offer of N200,000, but after the intervention of Sarkin Ranga, we accepted. Despite reaching out to Sarkin Ranga and Danjuma, nothing has been done. Danjuma told us to accept the payment whenever it comes, but he doesn’t know when that will be.”
Reactions
Alh. Mohammed Haruna Naka, the village head of Ranga, in an interview with WikkiTimes said he is in contact with both the lawmaker and the farmers. He noted that Hon. Ranga is working to ensure that the affected farmers are compensated.
“I have spoken with Hon. Ranga’s representative, who assured me that the compensation will be paid. While there’s no specific timeline, I encourage the farmers to remain patient, as the payment will certainly come.”
On his part, Hon. Ranga, said the contractor was supposed to make the payment for the compensation to the affected farmers, but he was yet to get his payment to do that.
He explained that he was following the issues to ensure all the affected farmers are paid their entitlements soon.
“…the payment should be done by the contractor, and everything was brief (sic) and now is waiting for his payment before he settles the request, but I’m following it to ensure speedy payment,” Ranga told WikkiTimes via a WhatsApp chat.
