Ortom Gives Residents 6 Months To Recertify Landed Properties

Benue State governor Samuel Ortom has given six months ultimatum to residents with landed properties within Makurdi, Otukpo, Gboko and Katsina-ala to ensure recertification or face sanctions.

The governor who gave the directives during the inauguration of Benue Geographic Information Service Centre in Makurdi (BENGIS) said, the digitization project marks a milestone in the history of his administration, and could not have come at a better time given the increasing role of land assets in the socio-economic development of the people.

Ortom said, “The regular reports I am receiving since the introduction of Geographic Information System in Land Management, the numerous challenges that were associated with land administration in the State have been reduced to the barest minimum, and since the commencement of the BENGIS Project, the land digitisation initiative has greatly improved Urban Planning, infrastructure development, environmental management and encourage private investment.”

According to him, “I want to charge all staff that would be involved in this venture through training, operation of facilities and maintenance to be diligent, focused and take full advantage of the BENGIS facilities to further upgrade their skills which would impact on the quality of their service delivery to the public whose interest we are expected to serve as well as promote more efficiency on the part of the Government.

“In the area of data and information to guide Ministries, Departments and Agencies, BENGIS will provide the needed geospatial information to support relevant MDAs, organisations and professional bodies to optimize their performance in the areas of revenue drive and access to timely and precise information to assist in policy formulation as well as effecting changes to existing policies in the light of emerging new realities.”