The Plateau State Government has issued a stern warning to landowners against developing properties without securing the necessary approvals from relevant authorities.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang delivered the cautionary message on Tuesday while receiving reports from two government-appointed committees at the Government House in Little Rayfield, Jos. The committees, constituted in March last year, were tasked with reviewing land administration processes and overseeing the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the state.
Governor Mutfwang expressed concern over the growing trend of unauthorized construction activities, stressing that all landowners must obtain proper documentation and approvals before commencing any development. He pointed to poor record-keeping and administrative lapses as major obstacles to effective land management in Plateau State.
To address these challenges, the Governor revealed that the government has commenced the digitization of all land records, a move aimed at streamlining land administration and curbing encroachments.
“We cannot continue to allow people to build indiscriminately without proper approvals. It is harmful to our environment, our communities, and future development plans,” Mutfwang said.
He also decried the increasing abuse of land administration processes and called on whistleblowers to report cases of illegal land occupation and unauthorized development to the Task Force on Recovery of Government Property.
In a decisive move, the Governor announced that the Anti-Land Grabbing Law, passed by the previous administration, would soon be enforced to safeguard public lands and protect legitimate property owners.
Presenting the report of the Land Administration Committee, Chairman Isaac Dimka disclosed that the committee had received numerous petitions concerning land disputes and irregularities. He recommended the creation of a new land management board to oversee and coordinate land-related activities in the state, thereby reducing overlapping functions among agencies.
Also submitting a report, Air Commodore Christopher Rwang (Rtd), Chairman of the Committee on Resettlement of IDPs, recommended a phased resettlement approach in light of prevailing security concerns in some of the initially designated “green zone” areas. He further called for massive reconstruction of destroyed homes and provision of essential social services to aid displaced communities.
Rwang emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration between the government, security agencies, and stakeholders to effectively manage the resettlement process and improve security in affected areas.
Responding to the reports, Governor Mutfwang reiterated the government’s commitment to preventing illegal land occupations and encroachments. He advocated for the establishment of a mediation committee to resolve internal land disputes amicably and commended both committees for their diligence and commitment to their respective assignments.
The Plateau State Government’s renewed focus on land administration reforms and IDP resettlement efforts is expected to bring greater order, transparency, and security to land ownership and community resettlement initiatives within the state.
