Landowners whose properties were acquired for the establishment of the Federal University, Wukari, have accused the Taraba State Government of failing to complete compensation payments, claiming the delay has caused severe hardship and disrupted education in the host community.
In a statement released on Sunday in Jalingo, the landowners, represented by their solicitor, Barrister P. M. Shagnah, said the prolonged non-payment has pushed many residents into poverty and forced some students to drop out of school due to financial difficulties.
Shagnah disclosed that a post-judgment settlement reached in 2023 required the government to pay ₦205 million in compensation in seven instalments between December 2023 and July 2024. However, as of July 2025, about ₦80 million remains unpaid.
“Unfortunately, we are now in July 2025, and a balance of about ₦80 million remains unpaid,” Shagnah said, noting that while Governor Agbu Kefas had partially complied with a Taraba State High Court ruling by paying 50 percent of the amount awarded, the remaining balance must be settled urgently to ease the community’s suffering.
“Our clients have exhausted their patience after repeated pleas to the government yielded no results,” the statement read. “We urge the governor to prevent further misunderstanding and hardship by ensuring the remaining payment is made without further delay.”
The landowners cautioned that continued delays could worsen the socio-economic conditions in the community and fuel growing discontent among affected families.