Good News! – 267 Homes Face No Further Threat of Evictions (Nigeria: UA 189/15)

The Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) has not effected 21 day demolition notices issued on 12 August 2015 to 267 houses in communities in Zaria City, including Kofan Doka, Kofan Kibo and Anguwan Alkali. The court order restricting any further demolitions in Zaria City until the court case challenging the demolitions is concluded is still in place.

 

The Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) issued 21-day demolition notices to 267 houses in communities in Zaria City, including Kofan Doka, Kofan Kibo and Anguwan Alkali. The notices (seen by Amnesty International) were issued on 12 August 2015 and houses were to be demolished by 2 September 2015. So far, no demolitions have taken place. Even though there has been no official statement to the effect that the demolitions will not go on, a leader of one of the communities in Zaria City told Amnesty International that there had been no subsequent demolition notices from KASUPDA. 

 

The community attributes this to the fact that there is a court order in place barring any demolitions until the court case challenging demolitions in the communities is concluded. KASUPDA’s Director of Control confirmed this at a meeting with Amnesty International. At the same meeting, KASUPDA’s General Manager said that she and the Kaduna State Governor had received several letters from Amnesty International supporters and members. 

 

Due to the fact that there have been no demolitions for over a year now we would like to request that all action on this case stops. Amnesty International will continue to monitor the situation.  

 

Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.