The Niger state government has revoked the plots of land given to private and corporate organisations beside the famous Zuma Rock in Tafa Local Government Areas of the state.
This is contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Jonathan Vatsa, on Monday in Minna.
It said that the land was revoked in overriding public interest and preservation of the natural endowment of the land.
The statement, which disclosed that only seven persons were allocated the 248 hectares of land, added that some of the owners would be considered for new allocations.
“The approval for the revocation was contained in a memo to Mr Governor dated March 14, 2016 and signed by the State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Alhaji Haliru Jikantoro.
“Mr Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, gave the approval in exercising the powers conferred on him in consonance with the provisions of section 28, sub-section 2 (b) of the land use Act of 1978,’’ it stated.
The statement revealed the beneficiaries as Aso Savings and Loans with two allocations, Minna Economic Regeneration Services and Shelter Plus Nigeria Ltd.
Others are Grand Towers Plc, Grand Towers Plc, UAIA and Umaru Bature.
It directed the affected organisations and individual to return the Certificates of Occupancy in their possession and settle amount outstanding within three months.
The statement also warned those engaged in illegal stone crushing and granite quarrying at the site to desist or face the full wrath of the law.
It stated that such parcels of land belong to the state government and commercial activities can only be done through government permission.
(NAN)