BY HALIMA ABATCHA, OCTOBER 14, 2025 | 05:31 PM
The Borno State Government has launched a comprehensive Land Documentation and Sensitization Outreach aimed at encouraging landholders to obtain valid Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and other essential land documents.
The exercise, undertaken by the Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS) kicked off at BOTP 72 layout along Pompomari Bypass, Maiduguri, as part of efforts to ensure order, transparency, and compliance with land regulations across the state.
Speaking during the flag-off, the Executive Secretary of BOGIS, Engr. Adam Bukar Bababe, described the initiative as a crucial step toward sanitizing the land sector and safeguarding the rights of genuine landholders.
“This outreach is not just about sensitization; it is about giving people the right information and access to perfect their property documents,” Engr. Bababe said.
While stressing that proper land documentation remains crucial in curbing fraudulent practices and guaranteeing lasting land security, Bababe further warned that the government will no longer tolerate illegal structures or unverified land titles, as such properties risk outright revocation.
Bababe further urged Borno residents to ensure that their land titles are genuine and bear their correct names, explaining that many still hold unto documents bearing different names which often lead to disputes and loss of property.
“In many cases, the original allottees sold their plots to Mr. A, who later sold to Mr. B, then to Mr. C. Mr. C passed away, and the property is now in the hands of his children who also sold to someone far,” Engr. Bababe explained. “But legally, the land still belongs to the original allottee because the subsequent transactions were never perfected through proper documentation.”
Commenting on the recent Airport Buffer Zone demolition, Engr. Bababe clarified that the affected structures were found to have encroached on government land, many of which were illegally acquired from land vendors. However, he said government will identify and mark the houses within the zone for proper categorization.
According to him, properties situated on Bulama Adam’s land will be properly subdivided and documented, while those found on government land will attract penalties before being regularized. However, structures encroaching on airport land will be removed.
The General Manager of the Borno State Urban Planning and Development Board (BUPDB), Liman Gana Mustapha, reaffirmed the Board’s readiness to strictly enforce urban development laws, stressing that illegal constructions along drainages, road corridors, and buffer zones will no longer be condoned. He advised residents to always obtain proper development permits before embarking on any construction.
Musa Bulama who gave an overview of the project, explained that the exercise will be extended to various communities across the state to ensure wider participation.
The Ward Head of the area, Bulama Ali Umar, described the outreach as a commendable initiative and pledged to mobilize and encourage his subjects to participate in the exercise.
Ambassador Maina Mustapha and other residents of the area, while appreciating the opportunity, appealed for more flexible payment options to ease the process of securing land titles.
Signed: SA Media 14th/11/2025
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