The Federal Government has scheduled a fresh engagement with residents affected by railway construction in Zaria, Kaduna State, as unresolved compensation claims emerge as an obstacle to the planned extension of the rail line towards the Kano–Abuja corridor.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Funso Adebiyi, gave the assurance during a visit to the palace of the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamali, according to a statement issued on Friday.
Adebiyi said the ministry would examine complaints from affected residents and review the applicable compensation framework in a bid to reach an acceptable resolution.
He disclosed that he planned to meet with the aggrieved residents the following week to assess their claims, examine relevant records and determine the necessary steps to address the outstanding issues.
The compensation disputes have become one of the challenges confronting the proposed railway extension from Jadji Station towards the Kano–Abuja rail corridor, raising concerns about the impact of infrastructure development on host communities.
The permanent secretary acknowledged the grievances of the affected residents, assuring the Emir that the ministry would give the matter the attention required to facilitate a timely resolution.
He also said the government would review the legal and administrative provisions guiding compensation to determine how the complaints could be addressed.
Beyond the compensation issue, the visit brought a historical dimension to discussions on railway development in Zaria, with the Emir appealing to the Federal Government to name the proposed extension after his grandfather.
Bamali said the request was intended to recognise his grandfather’s contributions to the establishment of railway transportation in Zaria and preserve the history of the emirate’s connection with the railway system.
The monarch expressed satisfaction with the return of railway services to Zaria, describing it as an important development that had revived the area’s longstanding relationship with rail transportation.
Recounting his personal connection to the railway, Bamali said he travelled from Zaria to Bauchi in 1949 to see a train for the first time, describing the experience as a memorable part of the area’s railway history.
He maintained that the development of rail transportation in Zaria had historical foundations that deserved recognition, particularly the contributions of those who initiated and facilitated its establishment.
The Emir urged Adebiyi to convey the naming request to the Minister of Transportation and President Bola Tinubu for consideration.
Adebiyi said the ministry would examine the proposal, while assuring the monarch of the government’s commitment to engaging traditional institutions and host communities in the implementation of railway projects.
The proposed extension and the outstanding compensation claims therefore present two related priorities for the government: resolving the concerns of affected residents and advancing railway infrastructure while recognising the historical significance of the project to Zaria.
