- Kaduna governor extols Gombe counterpart’s foresight, clear vision
- “GOGIS has generated over N1.8bn so far” – Dr. Kabir Hassan
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, alongside his Kaduna counterpart, Malam Nasiru Ahmed Elrufa’i have performed the official unveiling of a new layout, known as Shongo Gardens Layout and the ground breaking for the construction of 550 housing units in a bid to provide affordable houses to the people of Gombe State.
Speaking at the event, Governor Inuwa observed that owing to its centrality in the Northeastern region and the prevailing insecurity in the neighboring states, Gombe state has witnessed an exponential increase both in population and size of its urban centres, partly as a result of influx of Internally Displaced Persons and urbanisation, the scenario that he said has put more pressure on the existing social amenities and proliferated the demand for housing and other social services.
“Since inception, we realised that in our efforts towards achieving the SDGs Goal 11 on fostering sustainable community and inclusive urban development we must develop innovative ways to provide affordable and quality housing to our people.
“It is against this backdrop that our administration deemed it necessary to establish Gombe Geographic Information Systems, GOGIS and transform the Gombe State Development Board to Gombe State Urban Planning Development Authority, GOSUPDA in order to ensure the realisation of the urban renewal agenda while abolishing administrative bottle necks”, he added.
According to the governor, the twin events mark the commencement of yet another phase of massive infrastructural development in the state and an important step that will see to the actualisation of the Special Development Zone Project which encapsulates an ambitious vision of his administration for a new and modern Gombe.
“This layout will be the first of its kind where critical infrastructure such as roads, water, power networks and other vital services will be provided with a goal of creating a habitable environment for Gombe residents while at the same time attracting investors and developers”, he noted.
Governor Inuwa warned that his administration will not condone any act of sabotage, distortion or encroachment in the new layout, calling on all relevant authorities to ensure compliance to development control regulations in the area.
The governor said when completed, the housing project will provide housing opportunities to hundreds of civil servants and other residents of the state, assuring to continue collaborating with both domestic and international development partners in the provision of sustainable housing and inclusive urban development.
In his remarks during the events, Mallam Nasir Ahmed Elrufa’i commended the people of Gombe State for their votes to the APC presidential candidates, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the presidential election and for re-electing Governor Inuwa Yahaya, whom he described as a performing governor.
“Gombe people have wisely chosen development over deception; they refused to compromise their future and that of their young ones. I assure you that you will never regret this”, he said.
Elrufa’i extolled Governor Inuwa’s foresight and clear vision as testified by his administration’s policies and programmes which are geared toward restoring the pride of the people of Gombe State.
“Like in our case in Kaduna, layouts have been distorted and land mismanaged, there are carve outs in GRA and no additional layouts were created, people are erecting structures without compliance to regulations and so on.
“There is urgent need to make provisions and plan for our cities and urban centres to provide conducive environment for the ever increasing population. And this is exactly what Governor Inuwa is doing in Gombe; planning for the present and the future. He is also thriving to see Gombe always remains the best option for investors, I believe that is why Gombe remains its position as the best in the ease of doing business in the country”.
At the GOGIS Corporate Office, Mallam Elrufa’i described the establishment of the agency as “a step in the right direction, maintaining that no development can be achieved without proper land administration”.
He said GOGIS, apart from revenue generation, will contribute to peace and development of Gombe State.
Earlier speaking at the venue of the unveiling of the layout and flagging of of the housing construction, the Director General, Gombe Geographic Information Systems, Dr Kabiru Usman Hassan said the location, structure and other properties of the layout were modelled to provide safer, convenient and more enticing environment using Internationally recommended standards.
At the Corporate Office of the Agency, the DG lamented that “GOGIS Project was conceived in 2013 but suffered negligence by previous administration until the emergence of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in 2019 who saw the need to rejuvenate the agency by digitizing its functions using the GIS technology”.
He appreciated the support of Governor Inuwa which saw to the success of the agency and facilitation of its transformation from analogue to digital systems.
“Your Excellency, you have provided the necessary infrastructure to this agency and supported us in terms of legislation, budgetary allocation, skillful manpower, vehicles, and befitting office complex as well as technological facilities that have adequately armed the agency to deliver on its mandate”.
Dr. Kabiru noted that the agency has recorded some remarkable achievements to include: securing digital Certificates of Occupancy, digitization of over 22 thousand manual land files out of the 27,000, digitization 52 layouts to checkmate distortions, regularization of about 12,000 customary titles to statutory titles, capturing of over 1500 customary plots into database, among others.
“GOGIS through the delivery of its services, has been able to generate about 1.8 billion naira, contributing greatly to the increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state”, he said.
Ealier in his welcome address at the venue, the Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Idris Abdullahi thanked Governor Inuwa for his foresight in conceiving and moving to execute the mega project, saying that it is the first time ever in the history of the state, that a state government is building such a large number of housing units at a go.
He said four competent companies will undertake the contract for the construction of the 550 housing units which include three, two and one bedroom bungalows, assuring that work will start immediately.
Also in his remarks at GOGIS Headquarters, the Commissioner of Land and Survey, Alh. Usman Jafun Biri commended Governor Inuwa for his support to the actualisation of digital transformation of land administration in Gombe State, assuring his ministry’s readiness to do more towards providing effective and efficient system of managing land and landed properties in the state.
Governors Inuwa and Elrufa’i had also inspected the GOGIS Service Centre, a complex built and equiped with modern facilities by Inuwa Yahaya Administration for effective digital land administration in the state.
Dignitaries present during the events included: Speaker Gombe State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo, Chief if Staff Government House, Abubakar Inuwa Kari, Head of Service Commissioners, Special Advisers,Chairman of Gombe State Investment and Property Development Company, Dr. Umar Kwairanga ( Sarkin Fulanin Gombe), DG Abuja Geographic Information Systems, AGIS, Dr Isa Jalo Waziri, traditional rulers, among other technocrats and top government functionaries.
Ismaila Uba Misilli
Director-General
( Press Affairs)
Government House
Gombe
