INTRODUCTION
The real estate sector has been largely unregulated in Nigeria, a situation that has allowed unscrupulous developers defraud home owners who pay without being given houses.
Recently, there have being multiple cases of homeowners who left stranded for years after paying millions for homes that never came.
The problem is most common in the nation’s capital Abuja and the commercial Centre, Lagos.
There is also the problem of quality of houses delivered by developers to those who paid.
As a result of this, the senate last week Wednesday passed a bill to establish the real estate regulatory council of Nigeria.
The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the senate committee on establishment and public service during plenary.
The new council, which needs concurrence of the House of Representatives and a presidential assent to become law, is also expected to check rising cases of collapsed buildings, another symptom of poor quality structures.
Nicholas Tofowomo, who presented the Senate report on behalf of the Committee Chairman, Ibrahim Shekarau, said the establishment of the Real Estate Council of Nigeria would provide efficient, effective and transparent administration of the business of real estate development in Nigeria.
According to the lawmaker, the Council would be responsible for prescribing minimum standards for the conduct of the businesses of real estate development across the country.
He explained that when established, the Council would standardize the business of real estate by regulating the conduct of transactions; and provide enabling environment and transparency in the business of real estate development in Nigeria.
The lawmaker stated that it would also curb fraudulent practices to ensure that the real estate business confirms with the National Building Code in Nigeria; as well as create an innovative and sustainable environment to promote Nigeria as a real estate investment destination in Africa and the world.
But the future of land administration in Nigeria relies on automated techniques for effective management. Managing large space of land with such huge population is indeed a gargantuan task that over the years have employed a lot of man power, though skilled, but fell-short of any GIS expertise.
Preparing or updating the development plan from the Federal Land to the state, which is also a monitoring tool should be catalyzed by the presence of a reliable Real Estate Council.
Therefore, this Council, when established needs a trustworthy and competent person to be in charge.
Using GOGIS Format
It would be recalled that His Excellency, The Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya upon assumption to office in May 2019 vowed to revitalize land administration in the state, a commitment that led to the appointment of Dr Kabiru Usman Hassan, the pioneer Director General of Gombe Geographic Information System (GOGIS), an agency which saddled with the mandate for the administration and management of land matters in the state.
Since the appointment of the substantial Director General, Governor Yahaya has been very supportive to the smooth take-off of the new agency.
Indeed, GOGIS is the future of land administration and management. Therefore, if land is a gold mine ready to be tapped, then, GOGIS is the tool for effective exploitation.
Dr. Kabiru Usman Hassan is the Director – General of Gombe Geographical Information System.
Gombe Geographic Information Systems (GOGIS) is an agency under Gombe State Ministry of Lands and Survey saddled with the responsibility of modernizing land administration in Gombe State in accordance with international urban planning standards and practices to pave the way for infrastructural development in Gombe State.
GOGIS, under the leadership of Dr Kabiru Usman Hassan, has modernised the process of issuing land titles and other related documents using state-of-the-art facilities. The transition and integration of land information into a unified geographic database has given the agency easy access to information about any piece of land or landed property with a click of a finger.
This has drastically reduced duplication and other forms of malpractices and corruption in land administration.
With the approval of adequate funds for aerial mapping that will cover the whole Gombe State (both inhabited and uninhabited areas) using high resolution remote sensing facilities, GOGIS will soon be partaking in the exploration of resources in the state. This will go a long way in wooing investors to Gombe state and eventually boost our economy.
As GOGIS continue to undertake “Operation Show Your Land Title Documents”, the operation aimed at sensitizing people on their duty as law-abiding citizens to pay their ground rent and other related taxes, the agency has succeeded in many fronts by mobilizing industries, banks, fuel stations and other commercial institutions to pay their dues.
To lead by example, most at times this kind of operation is done by a team of professionals under the leadership of the DG himself. This singular task has helped Gombe State Government in broadening its revenue base to cope with the current economic realities.
The establishment of the Gombe State Special Development Zone has been one of the focal projects of Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s administration aimed at providing a well-planned layout with adequate social amenities for the establishment of institutions to consolidate investments in the state.
GOGIS has been at the forefront in carrying out this task. From mapping, census of the existing structures to sensitization, the agency has been playing a pivotal role in making the project a reality.
Settling disputes is another aspect where GOGIS deserves recommendation. GOGIS corporate office receives numerous complaints on a daily basis regarding distortions of layouts and indiscriminate erection of structures.
With prompt intervention from GOGIS, many community clashes and individual disputes have been averted.
Further obligations
Determined to ensure residential buildings are not erected under the 330KV transmission lines which emit high levels of electromagnetic radiation, GOGIS has therefore reestablished the required setback across some plots in GDP/16 which were sold illegally at a detriment to the development of land administration in Gombe State.
The Agency is committed to ensuring citizens do not live in a hazardous environment, which would affect their health and living conditions, hence the need for the renewed commitment to making the layouts habitable and free of danger
The exercise determines to ensure full compliance with the latest development, as further encroachment will no longer be entertained. And, the Agency now intensifies efforts to make the affected titleholders understand the danger of living in such type of environment.
Also, demarcations of the right of way have been mounted by the Agency for the affected titleholders and the people of the State to note, in order to make them aware of the required standard setback.
Determined to ensure residential buildings are not erected under the 330KV transmission lines which emit high levels of electromagnetic radiation, GOGIS has therefore reestablished the required setback across some plots in GDP/16 which were sold illegally at a detriment to the development of land administration in Gombe State.
The Agency is committed to ensuring citizens do not live in a hazardous environment, which would affect their health and living conditions, hence the need for the renewed commitment to making the layouts habitable and free of danger
The exercise determines to ensure full compliance with the latest development, as further encroachment will no longer be entertained. And, the Agency now intensifies efforts to make the affected titleholders understand the danger of living in such type of environment.
Also, demarcations of the right of way have been mounted by the Agency for the affected titleholders and the people of the State to note, in order to make them aware of the required standard setback.