TO align on-going urban development plans in Borno with growing concerns for insecurity in land ownership, the state authority has moved to control the circulations of fake land titles through the adoption of land reform and introduction of new title documents.
The State’s Commissioner of Land and Survey, Alhaji Babagana Buhari made the disclosure at a press conference to mark Democracy Day and second year in office of Governor Kashim Shettima’s administration in Maiduguri, the state capital, said the Governor has delegated the powers of approving consent to the Commissioner.
He said since the inception of Shettima’s administration, the state has embarked on land reforms toward making land ‘accessible and affordable’ to the general public.
In his words: “it is amazing to note that most citizens use to quote that this Ministry had lost her glory, because of low level of land titling, which had accumulated the activities of the ministry to an unprecedented level over the years. In the current dispensation, the Borno state government had placed greater emphasis on the issues of land reform, particularly land titling and had delegated some of its powers of approving consent to the commissioner to facilitate proper
functioning of land titling.”
The adopted strategies, according to Buhari, include the introduction of new title documents printed for the first time by the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), introduction of passport photographs on application forms for proper identification; and evidence of three years tax clearance certificate by applicants to determine the responsibility status of applicants. He added that the measures would also help in boosting the states Internal Generated Revenue (IGR), which has currently shot up to N45.942 million.
Speaking on the proposed modernization and computerization of the ministry to fully implement the adopted strategies, the commissioner said the government plans to re-validate all the title and non-title documents to ensure the land ministry takes full control landed properties in the state.
He disclosed that the Ministry will also establish its Land Management Information System (LAMIS), along with the upgrading of Borno Geographical Information System (BOGIS) in the near future for effective control of landed properties in this state.
He also added that the state government had embarked on the assessment of layouts with a view of ascertaining the level of development and map out strategies to encourage land developers.
Buhari said that it was in realization of this move that the state government discovered illegal developers in some of its layout and swiftly applied the rule of law by the demolition of illegal structures to protect the “interests and rights” of genuine title holders.
“This had in turn opened an opportunity on the part of the title holder; and further strengthened the position of land and importance of this Ministry live up to its responsibility,” explained the commissioner.
On the achievements of the Ministry in the last two years, he said that three layouts had been acquired and designed at three locations in Maiduguri metropolis on Dikwa road, Baga road bye pass, adding that arrangements had been concluded for the allocation of third layout BOSA/179 at Njimtilo village.
He also added that during the last one year in office, Governor Shettima approved the compensation to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat complex, amounting to N18.5 million. The secretariat will sited and rebuild on Biu road to improve the welfare of working journalists in the state.
Buhari said that the ministry has approved ten land development sites located in various parts of Maiduguri metropolis for the 2, 500 housing units projects. The projects include the office complex of National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Agoro Industrial Estate, and Renewable Energy Farmland of 560 hectares.
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