October 14, (THEWILL) — The Borno State Government has begun a community sensitisation campaign on land administration and documentation, warning that any structure found to be in violation of land use laws will be demolished.
The exercise, which was flagged off at Pompommari Bypass in Maiduguri, brought together officials of the Borno State Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), the Urban Planning and Regional Development Board, community leaders, and residents.
Speaking after the exercise, the General Manager of the Borno State Urban Planning and Regional Development Board, Liman Mustapha, said the sensitisation programme was aimed at educating residents on proper land use and documentation.
“We had a very interactive session with members of the community and stakeholders. One key issue we discovered is that many people have Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) but have not updated them to reflect their names,” Mustapha said.
“If you have a C-of-O that is not in your name, it must be consented to by the governor before it can be used for any personal purpose.
“ Also, if a land is allocated for residential purposes and you intend to use it for another purpose, you must obtain approval from the Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS) before doing so. If your structure is not in conformity with your land title, the Urban Planning Board will not approve it,” he explained.
Mustapha warned that the state government would not hesitate to take action against violators.
“Once these laws are violated, if corrections can be made, we will make them. But if they cannot be corrected, the structure will be pulled down,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of BOGIS, Engr. Adam Bababe, lamented that many residents acquire properties without updating land documents to reflect new ownership.
“BOGIS is responsible for land management and administration. We ensure that all landowners have proper documentation.
“However, many people have failed to comply. We see cases where an original allottee sells to another person, and after multiple sales, the property still bears the name of the first owner. Such documents must be updated, but people often fail to do so,” Bababe stated.
He further decried the misuse of land contrary to approved purposes, warning that the practice would no longer be tolerated.
“Houses have been built for years on commercial plots, while commercial activities are carried out on residential lands.
“All these must be corrected. People must understand that proper documentation and adherence to land use regulations are their responsibility. Failure to comply could lead to loss of property,” he warned.
Participants at the sensitisation exercise commended the government for the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary to prevent land disputes.
One of the participants, Muhammad Salisu, praised the effort, saying, “We are glad this initiative is happening now. It will go a long way in resolving land disputes across the state. My appeal is that no community should be left out. If everyone is properly informed, people will live, buy property, and conduct their businesses in peace.”
