The Plateau State Commissioner for Land, Survey and Town Planning, Mr Yakubu Dati, has said that empowering people by turning land to capital will be given attention in 2022.
“This can be done through the process of title issuing,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Jos.
Dati said that the ministry had several projects outlined for the new year and the ministry would be building on the successes of the previous year.
“For this first quarter, our plan is to build on the successes of the past years, which is to pursue the vision of Gov. Simon Lalong.
“So we’ve gone very far in ensuring that we automate our operations here in the Ministry of Land.
“By making it faster and easier for people to get land titlation, we are also trying to raise revenue for government”, he said.
Dati explained that the ministry had put in place mechanisms to ensure that mapping of city lay-outs would be carried out accordingly.
“As you know, the payment of ground rent is a civic responsibility and it is usually done at the beginning of each year.
“We are having a Special Task Force to ensure that we generate ground rate for people to pay.
“We are also working hard in ensuring that we plan what we call lay-outs such that when people have lands they will be able to have access roads.
“That will facilitate electricity, fire services, ambulances and emergencies instead of having a jungle where there won’t be roads and access.
“We are working in conjunction with large holders of land to ensure that we create what we call lay-outs while we create services.
The commissioner added that the need for sensitisation to land titlelation processes could not be over emphasised in this regard.
“We are ensuring that we mobilise and conscientise people on the need to have land titlelation because until you have title on your land it may be open to abuse.
“It may be open to land-grabbers and we are happy that with the passage of the anti land- grabbing law, it has further empowered the people to be able to have land titles.
“Furthermore we are also executing the World Bank project that has to do with property enumeration.
“Our staff are going round the city to ensure we conduct the enumeration of property, we also want to use this opportunity to alert property owners in Jos and surrounding on this development.
“This is to tell them that you may begin to have people come around to take information concerning your property, it’s for your safety and the security as well”, he said.
On the automation of Plateau Land Administration and Geographically Information System (PLAGIS), the commissioner said that the ministry “is operating a semi-automated system.
“We are in the process of ensuring full automation but now we do both manual and automation.
“Gradually we are ensuring that we are improving in the transparency of the system; that is why we do not involve in any form of financial transaction.
“All payments are done directly to government designated accounts at the Plateau Internally Revenue Service.
“We have published our cost because most times titlelations is based on the size, location and the use.
“So, is open for people, so that at a glance, you will be able to see our charges and also take advantage of it”.(NAN) (n
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