Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state, has ordered the stoppage of constructing new petrol filling stations (PFS) in Maiduguri metropolis and its environs. According to him, the indiscriminate building and proliferation of PFS, pose dangers to both lives and property in the metropolis and Jere council of the state. While raising alarm at the weekend in Maiduguri, Executive Secretary of Borno State Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), Engr. Adam Bababe said that; “The indiscriminate erections of petrol stations in residential areas, portent dangers on people’s lives and property in the metropolis and environs.” He said that preliminary investigations of a high-powered committee; already indicated that there are over 200 filling stations within Maiduguri, the state capital. “Many more of such stations, are being sited on the outskirts and along six entry roads into Maiduguri metropolis,” he said, noting that this informed the Governor to halt any further building of filling stations. Continued; “The outcome of that order will now tell us whether we will demolish some filling stations or shift some to the outskirts of metropolis. “But for now it should be clear that no more new filling stations that have not been approved before now will be given approvals to build more PFS.” He said that the Geographic information service agency; has also embarked in the demolitions of temporary shelters and commercial shops on major roads and highways of metropolis. According to him, the demolition exercise, was to sanitize the city and get rid of criminal activities in Maiduguri. While speaking the on revocations of various categories lands, he said: “The state government is not considering the revocation of any land. “We’re only encouraging land owners to regularize their land titles,” warning that failure to do so could lead to revocations of such lands in residential and commercials areas of Maiduguri.
