Borno begins illegal structures’ demolition in Maiduguri

The Borno State Government has commencement has begun demolition and clearance of illegal structures in Maiduguri metropolis.The clearance exercise embarked upon by Geographic Information Services (BOGIS) in collaboration with Urban Planning and Development Board (UPDB) are targeted at structures and buildings sited on road reservations across the metropolis and environs.

BOGIS’s Executive Secretary, Malam Adam Bababe who disclosed this in a statement said: “We and the urban development board, are embarking on clearance of illegal structures and buildings in Maiduguri, and its environs.” He said, adding, all owners of illegal structures are clear them within a week.

“Failure to comply with this notice, the geographic and urban development agencies, will demolish the marked structures,” he warned, stating that all the incurred demolition costs will be paid by affected owners of such illegal structures.The structures marked for demolition, are sited in Jere Council, Pompomari bye-pass, Yola Electricity Distribution Company areas in
Bulumkutu, Yan Nono and Peace FM areas along Damboa road.

Others according to him; comprise the Industrial Training Fund office near NYSC camp, Teachers Village, and Bakassi IDPs camp, New Stadium, Mustapha Tatabe Street in Bulumkutu/Abuja residential areas.

Bababe added that various makeshift shops, temporary buildings and plots that violated or breached the Land Use Act are to be demolished.

He said that the agency has however; formally opened its window for complaints and search at the Land Registry, along Biu road.

According to him, prospective clients should lodge their complaints or requests for search at Customer Care Unit (CCU) of the service. Bababe further, called on all statutory landholders in the state to pay their ground rents, including their outstanding charges.

He said all payments be made to the designated bank accounts or at points of sales provided by the service customer care unit.On verification of title instrument, he said: “The original title instrument should be presented for verification at the land registry.

While lamenting non-payments of ground rents, he said: “All holders of government grant title; should update their payments of ground rents, failure to comply will have their plots processed for revocation.

“Any transaction over statutory land without approved consent and registration by liable authority (BOGIS) is illegal and void.

“Also; change in purpose/use initially granted to other without permission is illegal and will let to revocation.

“The position of the law over these matters is clearly provided under section 10, and 22 of the land use Act. 1978.”