…Set To Embark On Final ‘Operation Show Land Documents’ Or Risk Revocation
By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
The Borno State government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum has decried the high level of non-compliance of the general public, especially land owners, with perfecting their title documents.
Speaking at a press conference, which took place at the conference hall, Borno Geographic Information Service, BOGIS, in Maiduguri on Wednesday, the Executive Secretary of the service, Engineer Adam Bababe, said that since the establishment of BOGIS in 2020, less than 50 per cent of holders/occupants of Statutory Rights of Occupancy, SRO, complied and perfected their title documents and clear all their outstanding ground rents and other land charges.
He accused holders/occupants of disposing of government quarters and selected layouts under the pilot scheme.
Following this development, Bababe said that despite the high level of education, enlightenment and awareness embarked upon by the government for people to come and do the needful in the last three years, over 50 per cent of defaulters have not turn up, instead, they resort to infraction of the Land Use Act of 1978, hence, BOGIS will soon embark on the second phase of operation with a view to sanction defaulters or revoke their lands.
He said, “You may recall that upon the establishment of the Service – BOGIS – in 2020, public notice was issued calling on the holders/occupants of SRO to perfect their title documents and clear all their outstanding ground rents and other land charges, but unfortunately they turned deaf ears, while some holders/occupants disposed off government quarters and selected layouts under the pilot scheme.
He added, “For the avoidance of doubt, the layouts under the pilot scheme, which were 12 in number are as follows; NEF/78 and 78F, which covers the whole of old GRA, BOTP/131 – New GRA, BOTP/44 – Damboa Road, BOTP/48 GRA Extension, LP/NE/30 former House of Assembly quarters and BOTP/122.
“Other layouts include; BOSA/44G, BOTP/60 – Lagos Street, BOTP/86 – Lagos Street, NEP/96 – Damboa Road West GRA Extension, BOTP/172 – Molai Quarters and BOTP/72 respectively.
“Government, upon the expiration of the three months’ period also gratuitiously granted extension for holders/occupants to regularize their documents before embarking on full enforcement of the terms and conditions of the grant of their SRO.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the terms and conditions referred to, amongst others, are: covenant to development within two years from the commencement date of the term of Right of Occupancy.
“Secondly, to pay, without demand, in advance annual ground rent before 15 January every year, and not to alienate the Right of Occupancy or any part thereof by sale, mortgage, transfer of possession, sublease or bequest without consent.
“Other conditions include: upon expiration of the term of grant to render up to the commissioner – now Executive Secretary – in good and substantial repair all buildings on the land which have not been removed with consent, change of Land Use without consent and subdivision without consent.”
Bababe therefore insisted that the service is now in its fourth year of establishment, and it is ripe to scale up the enforcement of all covenants – terms and conditions – of grant of SRO and clear the way for smooth implementation of the laws and regulations affecting land administration in the state to entrench excellent, transparent, equitable and sustainable land administration in Borno State.
Continuing, he said, “I call on all holders/occupants of SRO to cooperate with the staff of the Service, as the doors of the Service are always open for all enquiries from 9 am to 4pm from Mondays to Fridays.”
