Borno issues 2,500 CofO to boost IGR, land administration

•Yobe begins rural roads construction to boost employment

The Borno State government has commended the Geographic Information Service (BOGIS) for the reform in the land administration processes, especially in ensuring land title, registration and developers’ compliance.

Governor Babagana Zulum applauded the agency while inaugurating the 180-seater-capacity auditorium and a digitalised modern studio. “All the projects at the agency’s premises, are executed with the meagre amount released, including the five per cent collected fees,” he said.

Executive Secretary of BOGIS, Adam Bababe, said the land administration initiatives were undertaken by the agency to develop infrastructure and enhance efficient service delivery in the state.

Besides, he said that BOGIS plays a critical role in land administration, particularly in digitalising land processes, including automated issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (CofO). Bababe revealed that the government has issued 2,500 CofO in the last five years, which surpassed the 1,700 issued certificates to title landholders between 1999 and 2019.

Highlighting the activities of the agency, he said: “We ensured an efficient and reliable service delivery in land management and administration, including the sustenance of best practices for land tenures and title certification in the state.

He noted that these measures are to professionally engage all stakeholders in the built industry across the state. Bababe, who lamented the high costs of hiring stakeholders’ conference halls in the state, added, “The auditorium would be used for board meetings before land acquisitions for an over-riding public interest where all land holders will be present, training for staff and students, workshops, meetings and other engagements.

MEANWHILE, the Yobe State government has commenced the construction of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Roads (RAMAR) to boost food security and employment in the state.

The Project Coordinator, Musa Suleh Damagum, said the rural access roads will create job opportunities in the haulage and marketing of farm produce and livestock. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ali Mustapha Goniri, unveiled the RAMAR project at a stakeholders’ road reform meeting held in Damaturu, the state capital. The meeting was held to strategise plans to accelerate the construction and rehabilitation of critical road projects across the state.