Gombe Community Rejects Farmland Acquisition for University

The Kundulum Community Development Association has formally rejected the proposed acquisition of community farmlands for the permanent site of the privately owned Jewel University. This decision followed a town hall meeting on Saturday, where community leaders, including Chairman Alhaji Shuaibu Gara, expressed concerns over the lack of adequate consultation with affected landowners.

Gara criticized the government's actions, stating that officials had begun demarcating approximately 110 hectares of farmland without meaningful engagement and that the proposed compensation was significantly below market value. He highlighted that the Kundulum community had previously surrendered land for various public projects, including Gombe State University and the Federal College of Education, yet had seen little benefit in terms of employment or community development.

The community is calling for Jewel University to negotiate fairly with landowners and for the government to ensure transparency and adequate compensation throughout the acquisition process. Affected landowners voiced their fears about losing their only source of livelihood and appealed for a fair review of the acquisition process.