Gombe Government tightens land governance as GOGIS sets final deadline to protect legitimate owners.
Gombe Government tightens land governance as GOGIS sets final deadline to protect legitimate owners.
Auwal Ahmad
The Gombe State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and strict compliance with the Land Use Act, as the Gombe State Geographic Information System (GOGIS) announced a final window for land recertification in the newly redesigned Shehu Abubakar District.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, the Director General of GOGIS, Dr Kabiru Usman Hassan, said the exercise is aimed at safeguarding legitimate land interests while ensuring an efficient and orderly land administration system in Gombe State.
Dr Hassan explained that the reform followed the lawful revocation of Rights of Occupancy in the former BAP 4 Layout, carried out in accordance with Executive Order No. 007 of 2024 and Section 28 of the Land Use Act, due to breaches of allocation conditions and overriding public interest.
According to him, the state government, through GOGIS, embarked on a comprehensive land reform programme that included layout redesign, verification, documentation, and recertification of eligible allottees, leading to the formal redesignation of the area as Shehu Abubakar District.
He announced that the final extension for recertification and collection of allocation letters will run from Monday, January 5, to Friday, January 16, 2026, strictly for allottees who had earlier completed the documentation and verification process.
The GOGIS Director General said the decision to grant a final extension was taken after careful consideration of appeals from affected individuals, describing it as a reflection of the government’s commitment to fairness, inclusiveness, and due process.
Dr Hassan warned that failure to complete the process within the extended period would be regarded as a voluntary forfeiture, after which such plots would revert to the state government for reallocation in line with existing laws and policies.
He cautioned members of the public against rumours and misinformation, urging them to channel all enquiries about land payments, penalties, and allocations directly to GOGIS.
Reaffirming the position of the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Dr Hanan said the government remains resolute in building a land administration system anchored on legality, transparency, and the protection of genuine property owners, in support of sustainable urban development in Gombe State.
He urged all eligible allottees to seize the final opportunity to regularise their land documents and align with the state’s ongoing land governance reforms.
