The Borno State Government has marked 1,300 houses for demolition in
Maiduguri Metropolitan and Jere councils in the state.
The identified marked houses, were built on the waterways and banks of
River Nggadabul.
Executive Secretary, Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS),
Engr. Adam Bababe disclosed this Friday in Maiduguri, while briefing
journalists on “life threating dangers and menaces” of blocking
waterways and flood plains with such illegal structures.
According to him, since the commencement of rainy season in June this
year, some parts metropolis on river banks are submerged by floods.
He said that the current flooding situation in the metropolis and Jere
council calls for urgent attention to protect people lives and
property.
“All the identified marked houses and structures on waterways are
given way by their demolitions,” he said, noting that bulldozers are
being employed for the exercise.
He said the agency since its inauguration last March, generated N200
million from ground rents.
He further disclosed that about N1 billion targeted revenue is being
expected before the end of this year.
While implementing the proposed demolition exercise, he said: “We’ve
to clear the air on the demolition exercise of certain churches, which
was given religious connotations in some quarters,” noting that
mosques built on waterways are equally marked for demolition.
“There is nothing like witch hunting or religious sentiments
associated with BOGIS’s demolition exercise,” he said, adding that the
agency had fruitful discussions with the leadership of Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN).
He said that the religious leaders exhibited understanding on the
demolition of some churches built either on waterways or river banks.
“Our actions of demolition exercise, were to protect houses from being
submerged by floods,” warning that the flood plains and river banks
cover no less than 35 per cent landed areas of metropolis and council.
He therefore, urged the people to stop building on river banks and flood plains.
He warned that they are not suitable for construction of houses.
“The people who acquired illegal structures and built on them should
know that the consequences is demolition without compensation,” he
said.
He noted that was able to save N200 million through ground rents and
blockades of leakages from the former Ministry of Land and Survey.
He alleged that unscrupulous staff connived with people to defraud the
state government.
“The digitalization of the land records and introduction of electronic
payments for ground rents curtailed the activities of land
racketeering and corruption on land matters,” he said.
