The Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS) has given a three-week ultimatum to all parties involved in the lingering BOSA/178 land dispute in Maiduguri to resolve their claims or face necessary government action.
The decision followed a stakeholders meeting convened by the agency on Wednesday to address the long-standing controversy over the layout, located near the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary of BOGIS, Engr. Adam Bukar Bababe, explained that the BOSA/178 layout was initially designated for light industrial purposes in 1979. However, due to limited industrial activities and increasing residential demand, the government redesignated the area as a residential zone in 1999, and subsequently allocated plots to qualified individuals.
Bababe disclosed that BOGIS had been engaging stakeholders for the past two years, including original allottees, current occupants, traditional title holders, community leaders and other interested parties, to resolve disputes arising from illegal sales, multiple claims and unregulated developments.
“Today’s meeting marks the conclusion of our stakeholder engagement. We have given all concerned parties a three-week grace period to resolve internal issues and complete necessary documentation. After the deadline, the government will take appropriate actions in line with existing laws,” Bababe stated.
He noted that the state government had earlier secured a court ruling in 2016 affirming its ownership of the layout following a suit filed by certain claimants in 2013.
The BOGIS boss further revealed that a house-to-house assessment will soon begin to verify all statutory and customary titles. He said final approvals and development plans would proceed according to Borno State’s urban planning laws and regulations.
