By Adadainfo
The Benue State government has given a six months’ ultimatum to residential and commercial property owners in the state to properly certify them or face sanctions.
Governor Ortom handed down the directive in his address, Monday, December 12th, 2022 at the commissioning of the multi-billion naira Benue Geographic Information Service land digitization project in Makurdi, the state capital.
The project was commissioned by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
In his words, “I call on the good people of Benue State to embrace and key into this project, which does not belong to the state government alone, but designed to positively impact on public interest.
“I hereby declare that, all property, both residential and commercial in Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo should be certificated within six months or face certain penalties.”
According to Governor Ortom, “The inauguration of this edifice, a component of the Benue Geographic Information Service, marks a milestone in the history of my administration, and could not have come at a better time given the increasing role of land assets in the socio-economic development of our people.
“With the regular reports I am receiving since the introduction of Geographic Information System in land management, the numerous challenges that were associated with land administration in the state have been reduced to the barest minimum.”
He said since the commencement of the BENGIS Project, the land digitization initiative had greatly improved urban planning, infrastructure development, environmental management and encouraged private investment.
The governor said, “With the commissioning of this historic project today, we have achieved the international best practice in land administration in the state. I am optimistic that this project will attract the World Bank’s grant of USD$2.5million through the SFTAS programme to be applied for developmental projects in the state.”
He said he was impressed that the decision of his administration to invest in the project was already yielding positive results with renewed interest of the people in land matters as well as accelerated processing of Certificates of Occupancy, stating that the process could now be accomplished within a few weeks.
Governor Ortom said BENGIS would operate throughout the entire state with a service centre in Makurdi with additional service points in Gboko, Otukpo and Adikpo
He said the terms of the contract with GIS Transport Ltd required the firm to design, build, operate and transfer management of the project to the state government at the end of the agreed period, stating that, “One aspect of this project that impresses me more is the fact that staff of this ministry have been adequately trained on the use of the modern GIS/ICT driven land administration.”
While urging the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals to maintain the project, Governor Ortom said the government would not hesitate to take punitive steps against any staff found to compromise any of the equipment.
Governor Wike, before commissioning the project, noted that land administration has been a crucial issue in the country, but with what Governor Ortom has done, he would be able to limit or reduce the burden of problems of land administration and enhance the internally generated revenue, urging staff to protect the property for the people of the state to derive maximum benefit for the huge investment by the State Government.
According to Governor Wike, “I have been to Benue four times for commissioning of projects and today is a very important project. Land administration has been a big problem. It has not been easy and for your administration to carry out this project shows your commitment, your love and your interest for the development of Benue State.
“You can see a government that is willing to work, a government that has not more than five months to leave is still committed to completing the projects that are very impactful, the projects that will move the state forward. My dear brother, I am very much happy with you.
“I identify with you, and will continue to do till you leave office and represent your people in the Senate. I know when you go to the Senate your voice will be heard, your voice will not be cowed, nobody will tell you Ortom don’t talk, you will talk on behalf of Benue people that I know very well.
“I am not afraid, I am not even contemplating if anybody is contesting with you. The person should have a second thought, because Ortom means well for the people of Benue State and there is no need in going to challenge him on going to the senate.
“I am happy and I want to say that all other projects you are doing, try as much as you can to complete them. I know how it is for scarce resources and the few resources you have to develop Benue State. You are not a friend of the Federal Government and so it has not been easy for you to access funds.”
