Dr. Kabiru Lead Land Revolution In Gombe State, Driving Unprecedented Transformation
The Director General of the Gombe Geographic Information Systems (GOGIS), Dr. Kabiru Usman Hassan, PhD, has been leveraging his leadership at all levels—combined with political will and a strategic, people-centered approach to reform the land sector, bringing structure, stability, and credibility to the agency in the state.
Under his leadership, GOGIS has introduced end-to-end digital workflows, geo-referenced cadastral mapping, and accelerated the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy—making Gombe one of the fastest states in Nigeria to process land titles.
In a country often hindered by inefficiencies in public service delivery, the quiet but powerful transformation of Gombe State’s land administration stands out as a masterclass in land reform in Nigeria.
Dr. Kabiru pioneered digital land reform under the auspices of GOGIS—an institution that has redefined what is possible when technology meets purposeful leadership.
What started as a bold initiative under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has now matured into a national model of digital governance and institutional excellence. Through strategic reforms and unwavering political will, GOGIS has become a beacon of transparency, innovation, and economic empowerment.
Recently, this excellence caught the attention of Taraba State, which dispatched a high-powered delegation led by the Chairman of TAGIS to understudy GOGIS. The delegation, which included top government technocrats such as the Director General of TAGIS and the State Surveyor General, came not just to observe—but to learn.
According to Dr. Kabiru, what they found in Gombe was a fully digitized, user-centric GIS operation that simplifies complex processes, enhances data security, and increases internally generated revenue. But beyond the systems and software, what stood out was the culture of efficiency, professionalism, and service delivery.
Under his guidance, GOGIS has also integrated drone technology for surveying, reduced land-related disputes through accurate spatial data, and opened new layouts like the Season Shongo Gardens and the world-class Shehu Abubakar District—each planned with precision and long-term sustainability in mind.
It’s no surprise that beyond Taraba, states like Kano and Zamfara, as well as development partners, have taken a keen interest in what Gombe is building.
GOGIS is more than a reform agenda—it’s a blueprint. A reminder that when governance is intentional, the results are visible. That when professionals are allowed to lead, institutions thrive.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya recognized early on that land is not just an administrative concern—it’s a strategic economic asset. His decision to support GOGIS with the resources, autonomy, and political backing it needed for success was a game-changer. Today, land administration in Gombe is no longer a bottleneck—it’s a catalyst for investment, urban planning, and sustainable development.
Dr. Kabiru’s advice to the Taraba delegation during their visit was instructive: “You must build systems, not just offices. Reform isn’t an app you download—it’s a mindset you build.”
As Gombe continues to shine, it reminds us all that reform is not about noise—it’s about impact. And with GOGIS, the impact is clear, measurable, and deeply transformational.
