The Borno State Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), has saved N200
million from ground rents by blocking leakages from former Ministry of
Land and Survey.
While announcing revenue targets for 2020, at weekend in Maiduguri,
BOGIS’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Adam Bababe disclosed that; “with
the savings made from blocked leakages, we are targeting N1 billion
internally generated revenues (IGR) before the end of this year.”
He alleged that some staff of former land ministry, collaborated with
outsiders to defraud state government, since the inauguration of
agency last March.
He attributed successes of land agency, to the digitalization of land
records and electronic payments for ground rents.
According to him, this has curtailed activities of land racketeers and
corruption in land matters in the state.
While speaking on marked houses for demolition, he said that the
current flooding situation in Maiduguri metropolis and Jere council,
calls for urgent interventions to save lives and property.
“The proposed demolition exercise, was to protect people’s lives in
Maiduguri,” warning that flooding pose life threating dangers to
residents living on waterways and river banks.
He explained that; already bulldozers are being deployed to demolish
the marked houses along river banks and flood plains.
“All illegal houses and structures; are to provide right of ways for
the flood waters to flow freely into rivers and stream,” he said.
Continued; “We’ve to clear the air on the demolition exercise as it
affects certain churches built on waterways and river banks.
“They have been given some religious colourations in some quarters,”
adding that even mosques built on waterways are equally affected as
they are equally marked for demolition exercise.
While debunking insinuations, he said: “This agency has already
engaged the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on
fruitful discussions,” stating that there is nothing like witch
hunting or religious sentiments associated with agency’s demolition
exercise.
He therefore appealed to people to desist from building on river banks
and flood plains.
According to him, they are prone to floods, and not suitable for
construction of houses and other structures.
