In a bid to combat the challenge of housing deficit by providing affordable houses to the people of the state, Gombe State governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has performed the official unveiling of a new layout known as Shongo Gardens Layout.
The governor proceeded to lay the foundation for the construction of 550 housing units.
He also launched the Gombe Geographic Information Systems (GOGIS) Centre.
Governor Inuwa said the state 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,” he noted.
He said the foundation laying ceremony and the launch of GOGIS 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.
On his part, the Kaduna state governor, Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, who was the special guest of honour, 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.
He commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya, for taking steps to address the housing deficit in the state.
“The steps taken by Gombe government is the right one, which is to partner with other private sector to build housing.
“But the problem of housing deficit will never be addressed until we have a national mortgage system in the country.
The director general of GOGIS, 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.
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