The Gombe State task force on Special Capital Development Zone has agreed with residents of Sir Ahmadu Bello Quarters, new GRA extension, to suspend new constructions to allow the creation of proper layouts.
The Gombe State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Mr. Julius Ishaya said that the directive followed the agreement reached with the residents.
Mr Ishaya said based on the agreement, the area would be transformed from a customary titled area to a State Government titled layout.
He said contrary to speculation earlier making the rounds that the state government wanted to forcefully take over their lands, Mr. Ishaya said it was not true.
“We have asked the residents to cooperate knowing fully well that government doesn’t have intension to take over anybody’s land, but rather want to improve and add value to what we have here. We are asking the people to comply, so that we are not pushed to the point of enforcing compliance,” Mr. Ishaya stated.
He said that at the end of the integration, people would have access roads, provision of different kinds of services and most importantly, titles that would serve as collateral for whatever they want to use it.
The Gombe State commissioner of Information said the government was working for the good of the people and not the negative vibes being felt around.
Mr. Ishaya gave the residents the assurance that when it became necessary for structures to be taken over during the integration of the customary title, that the person would be paid, not just compensation, but adequate compensation.
The state government inaugurated the Task Force on Gombe Special Capital Development Zone under the Chairmanship of the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Manasseh Daniel Jatau, to guide, direct and control physical development within the zone, as well as monitor and ensure compliance with it’s development guidelines.
However, during the briefing, the Commissioner of Information said the task force was in the process of integrating and incooperating the customary title into a layout, the customary title was right in the centre of the city now.
“The task force is about to embark on census of the structures to have what is currently existing and also say with a strong voice that all form of new construction should be suspended immediately. This will give the task force the opportunity to carry out the census of what is existing and then our technical people will begin the process of integration of this customary title into the Government layout so that this place can have all the necessary requirements that a layout should have,” he said.
In the meantime, the representative of the community, Babayo Gidado, who had had several dialogues with the committee, said that they agreed with the directive of suspending construction pending when the layout would begin.
Confidence Okwuchi
