Gov Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has ordered all land vendors to register with the Yobe State Geographic Information Service (YOGIS) before they operate in the state.
Buni disclosed this in Damaturu while inaugurating the New Digital Process on Land Administration and Management.
He said the registration would aid record keeping and address the menaces of land grabbing and racketeering.
The governor also said all filling stations, hotels, bakeries, water factories, private schools, corner shops, among others, must settle dues they owed the state to continue operations.
He noted that the introduction of the digital process would enhance land management and administration for effective service delivery in line with global best practice.
“ It is gratifying to note that with YOGIS in place, our policy of transforming land administration and management in the state would continue to be in tune with the changing times, and providing effective and efficient services.
“ In the same vein, government is expecting that more revenues will be generated through titling, lease, consent, mortgages, surveying, mapping, ground rent and perfection of titles,” Buni said.
The governor directed YOGIS to “ design a project to produce titles to our traditional settlements across the urban areas in the State. The settlers will pay some amount to obtain their Certificates of Occupancies.
“ With this, the inhabitants of these traditional settlements will be able to use their titles as a collateral to access services. This provides an empowerment to small-scale and young entrepreneurs to attract facilities to improve their businesses,” he said.
Buni added that he had approved the contract for the production of a 25-year Damaturu master plan.
“ I am pleased to inform you that the team of experts engaged by the state government are ready to commence work.
“ Upon completion of the Damaturu master plan, we would also produce master plans for the other major urban areas across the state namely; Potiskum, Nguru, Gashu’a, Geidam and Buni-Yadi,” Buni said.