The Borno State Government has begun a statewide community sensitisation exercise on land ownership and documentation, warning that any structure found to violate land administration laws will be demolished.
The campaign, launched Monday at Pompommari Bypass in Maiduguri, brought together officials of the Borno State Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), the Urban Planning and Regional Development Board, community leaders, and residents.
Speaking shortly after the flag-off, the General Manager of the Urban Planning and Regional Development Board, Liman Mustapha, said the sensitisation was aimed at educating residents on proper land use and documentation.
“We had a very interactive session with community members and stakeholders. We discovered that many people have land papers but never changed them to their names,” Mustapha explained.
He cautioned that using a Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) not registered in one’s name without the governor’s consent is illegal, stressing that any change in land purpose—such as converting residential plots to commercial use—must be approved by BOGIS.
“Once these laws are violated, we will correct what can be corrected. But if it cannot be corrected, the structure will be pulled down,” he warned.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of BOGIS, Adam Bababe, lamented that many property owners have failed to update their documents to reflect current ownership.
“People buy land from the original allottees without updating the documents. In some cases, the land has passed through several hands, even generations, yet remains in the original owner’s name,” Bababe said.
He added that many property owners also fail to update their documents after changing the land’s purpose from residential to commercial use, a violation that has become widespread.
“Houses are being built on commercial lands, and commercial activities are taking place on residential plots. We are here to correct this and make people aware that proper documentation is their responsibility,” Bababe stated.
Community members at the event commended the state government for the initiative, describing it as a timely step toward reducing land disputes.
One of the participants, Muhammad Salisu, said the sensitisation would foster peace and transparency in property transactions across the state.
“My appeal to the government is that no community should be left out of this awareness drive. If everyone is informed, people will buy and own properties peacefully,” he added.
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