The Gombe Geographic Information Systems (GOGIS) has generated more than N7.5 billion in land-related revenue over six years, driven by digital land reforms, title regularisation and improved property administration.
GOMBE – The Gombe Geographic Information Systems (GOGIS) has generated more than N7.5 billion in land-related revenue over the past six years, following sweeping reforms that have transformed land administration and property management across the state.
The Director-General of GOGIS, Dr. Kabiru Usman, disclosed this on Thursday during the inauguration of the State-wide Land Title Recertification programme and the agency’s new field office in the Shehu Abubakar District of Gombe.
Usman said GOGIS had implemented one of Nigeria’s most ambitious land administration reform programmes since its establishment six years ago.
According to him, the agency has digitised more than 45,000 land records and over 52 layouts, while regularising about 18,000 customary land titles to strengthen land ownership documentation.
“We have regularised about 18,000 customary titles, introduced a business certificate of occupancy and generated over N7.5 billion in land-related revenue.
“We have also resolved most standing land disputes and deployed modern geospatial technology to support planning and development,” he said.
The GOGIS boss commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for providing the support needed to modernise land administration, describing the agency as a model now being studied by several other states.
He noted that the newly inaugurated field office was strategically established to bring land administration services closer to residents, developers and investors while creating a permanent hub for property-related transactions.
Inaugurating the facility, Governor Inuwa Yahaya announced that the state government would soon commence a comprehensive land title recertification exercise to enhance digital documentation and improve the ease of doing business.
According to the governor, the initiative will ensure that land certificates become more secure, digitally accessible and acceptable as collateral for accessing business loans.
He said the recertification programme would also curb land fraud, eliminate document forgery and prevent multiple sales of the same property.
“This administration will embark on a comprehensive land recertification exercise very soon.
“It is very key that we recertify so that we can all go digital and the certificates be more valid and user-friendly in order to serve as collateral security for businesses and for ownership to be deeply entrenched and confirmed,” Yahaya said.
The governor further revealed that GOGIS’ digital land administration model is already attracting attention from other states, including Taraba, Zamfara, Kano and Plateau, which are studying its implementation.
He said the digitalisation of property records has strengthened the protection of land ownership rights, increased transparency in land transactions and significantly boosted the state’s internally generated revenue.
Yahaya added that the reforms have reduced leakages, eliminated duplication in land title allocations and curtailed fraudulent practices that previously discouraged private investment in the state.
The government believes the ongoing reforms will further enhance investor confidence, improve urban planning and position Gombe as a leading example of modern land administration in Nigeria.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.