Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, said his administration had awarded a contract for the digitisation of land administration to improve urban planning and support infrastructural development in the state.
Yahaya stated this on Monday in Gombe while declaring open a two-day stakeholders’ engagement on land administration organised by Gombe Geographic Information Systems (GOGIS).
He stated that the move was to ensure good land administration system in the state, which
according to him, is essential to improve urban planning, support infrastructural development and proper environmental management.
“In Gombe and Nigeria, we are faced with the challenge of ensuring proper and orderly land administration.
“Poor physical development planning, endemic corruption in land administration and unacceptable bureaucratic bottlenecks, have hampered the overall development of the state.
“During the campaigns, we stressed the need to correct all irregularities in land administration, to ensure sustainable use and proper management of our land.
“We embraced the use of modern technology by awarding the contract for the aerial survey of the entire state using orthophoto technology.
“This will fast-track the issuance of digital certificates of occupancy as obtained in other states,” he said.
He added that the project, when completed, would upgrade existing aerial photographs and geographic maps of the state by producing high resolution Geographic Information System imagery, which would ensure proper identification of property boundary.
Yahaya said his administration inaugurated a land reform committee to address injustices and corrupt practices hampering efficient land administration and development in line with the provisions of the Land Use Act of 1978.
The governor urged all stakeholders at the workshop to ensure active participation and reflect their views in the communique to be issued.
He added that the state government would leverage the inputs to develop strategies for improving communication, cooperation and understanding for the effective implementation of land administration and sustainable development policies.
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The Director-General of GOGIS, Dr Kabiru Hassan, said the move by the state government was a giant stride towards effecting proper land administration and management while boosting revenue for the government.
Hassan noted that the move was not to oppress anyone or forcefully acquire land from anyone but to ensure that the wrongs in the systems were corrected for the benefit of all citizens.
Hassan appealed to the grassroots stakeholders and residents of the state to support the good intentions of the governor to develop the state and improve on existing infrastructure.
