Gombe state Governor in Northeast Nigeria, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has launched Gombe Geographic Information Systems, GOGIS.
GOGIS was launched during the official unveiling of a new layout, known as Shongo Gardens Layout and laid the foundation for the construction of 550 housing units in a bid to provide affordable houses to the people of the state.
Governor Yahaya said the government needed to develop innovative ways of providing affordable and quality housing to the people to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs Goal 11 on fostering sustainable community and inclusive urban development.
“It is against this backdrop that our administration deemed it necessary to establish Gombe Geographic Information Systems, GOGIS and transform the Gombe State Development Board into Gombe State Urban Planning Development Authority, GOSUPDA to ensure the realisation of the urban renewal agenda while abolishing administrative bottlenecks,” Governor Yahaya said.
He said the foundation laying ceremony and the launching of the Gombe Geographic Information Systems marked the commencement of another phase of massive infrastructural development in the state, as well as an important step to actualizing the Special Development Zone Project, which captures an ambitious vision of his administration for a new and modern Gombe.
“This layout will be the first of its kind where critical infrastructure such as roads, water, power networks and other vital services will be provided to create a habitable environment for Gombe residents while at the same time attracting investors and developers”, Governor Inuwa said.
During the launch of the GOGIS Corporate Office, Kaduna state governor in Northwest Nigeria, Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufa’i who was present, described the establishment of the agency as “a step in the right direction,” maintaining that no development can be achieved without proper land administration.
He said GOGIS would generate revenue and contribute to the peace and development of Gombe State.
The Director General of Gombe Geographic Information Systems, Dr Kabiru, Dr Usman Hassan, said the location, structure and other properties of the layout were modelled to provide a safer, more convenient and more enticing environment using Internationally recommended standards.
“GOGIS Project was conceived in 2013 but suffered negligence by the previous administration until Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya emerged in 2019 who saw the need to rejuvenate the agency by digitizing its functions using the GIS technology,” said the GOGIS DG.
He commended Governor Yahaya’s efforts to provide all necessary infrastructure to the agency and supported us in terms of legislation, budgetary allocation, skilful manpower, vehicles, and befitting office complex, as well as technical facilities that have adequately armed the agency to deliver on its mandate.
Dr Kabiru said the agency had so far recorded some remarkable achievements, such as the securing of digital Certificates of Occupancy, digitization of over 22 thousand manual land files out of the 27,000, digitization 52 layouts to checkmate distortions, regularization of about 12,000 customary titles to statutory titles, capturing of over 1500 customary plots into the database, among others.
“GOGIS through the delivery of its services, has been able to generate about 1.8 billion naira, contributing greatly to the increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state”, he said.
The Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Idris Abdullahi, said four competent companies would undertake the contract to construct the 550 housing units, including three, two and one-bedroom bungalows, assuring that work will start immediately.
Also, the Commissioner of Land and Survey, Mr Usman Jafun Biri, commended Governor Yahaya for the actualisation of the digital transformation of land administration in Gombe State, while assuring the people of Gombe State of the ministry’s readiness to do more in providing an effective and efficient system of managing land and landed properties in the state.
