Borno Kicks Off Community Sensitisation on Land Documentation, Warns Against Illegal Structures

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The Borno State Government has commenced a comprehensive community sensitisation exercise on land administration and documentation, warning that structures violating land laws will be demolished to enforce compliance.

The campaign, which kicked off on Monday at Pompommari Bypass in Maiduguri, brought together officials from the Borno State Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), the Urban Planning and Regional Development Board, traditional leaders, and community representatives.

Speaking to journalists after the flag-off, Liman Mustapha, General Manager of the Borno State Urban Planning and Regional Development, said the exercise aimed to educate property owners on proper land use and documentation procedures.

“We have had a very interactive session with members of the community and stakeholders. Many residents have land papers, but they have not changed ownership to their names,” Mustapha explained.

“If you have a Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) that is not in your name, it must be consented to by the governor before you can legally use it. Similarly, anyone seeking to change the use of a property—from residential to commercial, for instance—must obtain approval from BOGIS,” he added.

He cautioned that violations of land use regulations would attract corrective actions, including demolition of structures where necessary.

“Once these laws are violated, if it can be corrected, we will correct it. But if not, we will pull it down,” Mustapha warned.

In his remarks, Adam Bababe, Executive Secretary of BOGIS, highlighted widespread non-compliance with land documentation requirements in the state.

“We have discovered that many residents buy properties but fail to update the land documents to reflect their ownership,” Bababe said.

“Some properties have changed hands multiple times—from the original allottee to other buyers—without any formal update. In such situations, we urge property owners to regularise their documents to avoid disputes or loss.”

Bababe further raised concerns about the misuse of land, citing cases where residential properties were converted into commercial spaces without due approval.

“Houses are built on commercial plots while business activities are conducted on residential lands. These irregularities must be corrected. People must understand that land documentation is their responsibility,” he said.

Residents who attended the sensitisation welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary to reduce recurring land disputes in Borno State.

A community member, Muhammad Salisu, praised the government’s efforts and urged that the exercise be extended to all localities.

“This initiative will go a long way in resolving land conflicts across the state. Every community should be covered so that people can own and use land peacefully,” he said.

The sensitisation exercise is part of the state’s renewed efforts to enforce land use compliance, promote transparency in property ownership, and strengthen urban development planning.