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Gov. Babagana Zulum signed 775 Certificates of Occupancy on land ownership between 2020 and 2022, Engr. Adam Bababe, Executive Secretary of Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), said on Saturday in Maiduguri.
Bababe told newsmen that before the establishment of BOGIS in 2020, successive governments in the state signed only 1,722 Certificates of Occupancy in 20 years – from 1999 to 2019.
“In 2020, the year we started, Gov. Zulum signed 61 Certificates of Occupancy.
“In 2021, he signed 414 such certificates and in 2022, he has signed 300 and we are sure he will sign more before the year runs out.
“Hopefully we will have more than 1,000 certificates signed before the year ends.
What obtained in 20 years, we have now achieved in three years.
“The certificates are counterfeit-proof, GIS-based, digitalised, and can be geo-referenced,’’ Bababe said.
He also announced that the agency had completed the digitisation of processes of all existing land files and was in the process of linking the files to what was physically on the ground.
He cautioned beneficiaries against using certified lands for purposes other than which the Certificates of Occupancy were signed, adding that in the event of a change of plan, users should contact BOGIS for alteration.
“For instance, if you want to convert a residential property to a business place, you have to apply and there is a fee for that.
“We may approve based on suitability after assessment by town planners,’’ Bababe explained.
He noted that land charges in Borno were among the least in the country.
He explained that Borno charges one naira per square metre of land in high-density areas of low-income owners, amounting to N450 annually.
In low-density areas like Government Reservation Areas, three naira is collected per square metre which comes to N1,350 per annum, he added.
He said also that the 2022 flood had vindicated the government’s marking of houses constructed on waterways or inside river banks for demolition as the floods had washed some of them away.
Bababe said owners of such structures misunderstood the government’s intention to save lives until the floods posed a threat to their lives.
- A total of 37 people were killed on Tuesday after two buses collided head-on in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, traffic police said.
Utten Boyi, sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Borno, told reporters that the buses caught fire after the collision on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway.
Boyi attributed the accident to speeding and said the two buses were moving in opposite directions, but one of them lost control, skidded out of its way and collided with the other.
The official said that a mass burial for the victims will take place on Wednesday, as the police already obtained a court order in this regard.
Fatal road accidents are frequently reported in Nigeria, often caused by overloading, poor road conditions, and reckless driving. ■
To save the life of one Major Garba, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State hired a private jet to fly him to Abuja for medical treatment.
Garba sustained serious bullet wounds while fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the Wajiroko frontline of Sambisa Forest in Damboa Local Council.
Confirming the emergency chartered flight, in Maiduguri, a counter-insurgency expert, in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed: “He was receiving treatment at the Maimalari Military Cantonment Hospital, but requested to travel to Abuja to meet his private doctor.
”
His request was approved by the military authority.
Makama further disclosed that on getting to the Maiduguri airport, the commercial airline operators told Garba that it was against their rules to fly him in his critical health condition.
Disappointed with the airline’s response, he resigned to fate and waited for the next military flight that will be going to Abuja.
Governor Zulum, who was travelling to Abuja sighted the wounded officer and exchanged pleasantries with him.
It was in the course of the greetings that Zulum learnt of the soldier’s frustration to travel for medical treatment in Abuja.
The Governor was also told how operators of the Airline could not fly him due to his conditions.
Zulum, was however moved by the soldier’s condition and decided to intervene by asking the injured solder to join him in the commercial plane.
A source noted that the magnanimity he extended to the ailing soldier was not a one-off thing, stating that the Zulum is known to have always gone out of his way to provide any kind of support and concern to troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
Kill dreaded bandit kingpin, Gudau, in Kaduna
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have neutralised Boko Haram commander, Abu Hassan, and 13 other terrorists in the Mafa-Dikwa axis of Borno State.
Hassan and other fighters were killed after a soldier in the convoy patrolling the border road to Cameroun fired at the terrorists, who were reportedly fleeing.
Confirming the incident, yesterday, in Maiduguri, a counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed that Hassan led a Boko Haram robbery squad before they met their waterloo.
Makama said: “A terrorist, who was communicating with a commander in the camp of Abu Iklima, was heard stating that ‘the ‘infidels’ (referring to the troops) had killed 14 terrorists, including the commander.
The soldiers fired at us while we were withdrawing from the battlefield in Now. We are on our way with the bodies of our members.
We are coming to Gaizuwa for their burial.
’”
He added that some of the fleeing terrorists were also wounded and needed emergency medical intervention to save their lives.
SIMILARLY, a dreaded bandit, Kachalla Gudau, who commanded a large gang of kidnappers and other criminals in Chikun, Kachia and Kajuru local councils, was among the bandits neutralised by Nigerian troops on Sunday, at Kankomi in Kaduna State.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, made this known, yesterday, in a statement.
Aruwan said diligent exploitation of human intelligence networks corroborated other pieces of available intelligence, which confirmed that Gudau was, indeed, one of those felled by the bullets of the courageous troops, as they repelled an attack led by the notorious bandit leader.
According to him, the remains of the bandit, who is said to have links with other notorious kingpins across the North West and North Central states, were retrieved in the Kankomi Forest where he bled to death.
He stated: “Credible sources reported that after his remains were retrieved, a large number of bandits under his command buried him in a location around Kaku Forest in Kaso general area of Chikun.
“The identity of another neutralised bandit, whose remains were found by the troops, has been confirmed as Rigimamme – one of Gudau’s trusted aides.
”
The Guardian gathered that Gudau played a leading role in the kidnap of students and expatriates in Kajuru, Chikun and Kachia, aside the murder of kidnapped citizens and victims that resisted abduction.
Added to his nefarious activities, Gudau was reportedly engaged in coordinated attacks on herder settlements, disposing them of livestock, which made him the illegal possessor of large herds of cattle.
Catholic Knights are ready to deliberate on the roles of churches and the growing challenges of supporting Christians and victims of religious conflict in troubled regions of the country.
This is contained in a statement, a Knight of St. Mulumba (KSM), at the Metropolitan Grand Knight of the Abuja Metropolitan Council on Tuesday.
The Nigerian News Agency reports that the discussion will take place during the 2022 KSM National Convention, scheduled for November 23 in Abuja.
The theme of the National Convention is: “The role of the Church in defending and promoting peace, equity, justice and development in the democratic transition in Nigeria”.
Aule said that the order relies on its members, who can successfully fight a good cause for the greater glory of God, the Church and the progress of the country using their Time, Talent and Treasures (3Ts).
He said the convention will also discuss vital issues such as Christian faith, religious harmony, good governance, sustainable development, peace, unity and equity affecting the country.
“The supreme convention of KSM Nigeria is a platform for the promotion of the values of the order through open debates.
According to Aule, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, will present a paper on the subject of the convention, while Most Rvd. Oliver Doeme, Bishop of the Diocese of Maiduguri, will make the second presentation.
The Papal Nuncio in Nigeria, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, all the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Abuja are expected at the ceremony.
Also expected to attend the event are the Lay Presiding Bishop, the Federation Government Secretary, the FCT Minister, the Governors of Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and other states, as well as the Deputy Governors of Kogi and Nasarawa.
The convention will also be attended by delegates of the order, including members of the Supreme Executive Board, appointed Metro Officers, and the Grand Knights of all Sub-Councils across the country.
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Source Credit: NAN
Transport Minister Mu'azu Sambo says that the Federal Government has taken charge of the country's waterways through the implementation of the Deep Blue project.
Sambo said this during the second edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Administration (2015-2023) Scorecard series in Abuja on Monday.
He said that since the inauguration of the project in June 2021, the country had not recorded any cases of piracy in its maritime domain.
”The ministry in its versatile and intermodal mandate has taken charge of the safety and security of the nation's international waters in our waterways and rail corridors in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders.
“Now, it may interest you to note that the Gulf of Guinea is the most notorious region in the world, when it comes to piracy.
“To tame that in Nigeria's exclusive economic zone, the ministry implemented the deep blue project, also known as integrated national security and waterway protection infrastructure.
”To prevent illegal activities in Nigerian maritime waters, there is security in the Gulf of Guinea and maritime organization of West and Central African jurisdictions.
”The project also aims to enforce maritime regulations to improve the safety of lives at sea.
“With this impressive record, we are preparing to challenge the war zone insurance burden on the Nigeria-bound ship shipping community,” he said.
According to the minister, the Buhari administration also passed the anti-piracy bill, adding that it is important legislation that has tainted several administrations before 2015.
He said the legislation would prevent and suppress piracy, armed robbery and any other illegal acts against ship, aircraft and any other maritime traffic, including fixed and floating platforms.
He further said that the bill had opened the door to the administration of justice for piracy and other maritime crimes in the country.
On inland waterways, he said the Buhari administration had taken it as an alternative mode of transportation besides road, air and rail as it was cheap and environmentally friendly.
”We have more than 10,000 kilometers of inland waterways in Nigeria, as well as about 850 kilometers of coastal waters. So what business do you have moving containers from Lagos to Onitsha by road?
“If we sufficiently develop our inland waterways, then we will be able to have our products competitively, the prices of our products in the international market will be very competitive, just as the import of products will be very competitive,” said Sambo.
The minister reaffirmed that the port of Onitsha had been successfully concessioned and that the government had established ports in Baro in Niger, Lokoja in Kogi and Oguta in Imo states.
Regarding the development of inland dry ports in the country's government, Sambo said that the essence was to bring navigation closer to the people.
According to him, the government had successfully declared the inland dry ports of Kaduna and Dala as home ports, adding that other ports such as Funtua, Isialangwa, Aba, Jos, Maiduguri, among others, were at various levels of completion.( )
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Source Credit: NAN
The Federal Ministry of Transportation has presented N92.6 billion budget to the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Land and Marine Transport for the ministry and its agencies for 2023 fiscal year.
The Minister, Mr Mu’azu Sambo, in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Relations, Eric Ojiekwe, presented the budget at the National Assembly on Thursday in Abuja.
Sambo also presented the 2022 Budget Performance of the ministry which was , out N147.5 billion of which N52.1 billion, representing 35.33 per cent had been released and N38.9 billion utilised as at Oct. 25.
He said the ministry, through the support of the Joint Committee, was in the process of implementing the Nigeria Railway Modernisation project.
He said it was also progressively expanding the Railway network through yearly budgetary appropriations, following the challenges being faced in securing counterpart funding through loans.
According to him, the implementation of the Kaduna – Kano, Port Harcourt- Maiduguri and Kano-Maradi segments of the Railway modernisation is ongoing, with the Federal Government counterpart funding in the 2022 appropriation.
”We are expecting the Federal Ministry of Finance to conclude negotiations of the loans with the Infrastructure Development Finance Institutions of the Chinese, Portuguese and Turkish origin to implement the projects.
“Permit me to also report that the Lagos – Ibadan segment of the Lagos – Kano and Itakpe to Warri railway project are fully operational and receiving patronage from the general public.
”To reach practical completion of these projects, some aspects of works, including construction of overpass bridges, connection to the national grid and other ancillary provisions have to be completed.
”Therefore, adequate funds need to be provided in the 2023 budget to facilitate the practical completion of the projects,” Sambo said.
The minister said, ”while recording successes achieved in the Railway subsector, permit me to also mention the sad occurrence of the Abuja – Kaduna Rail incident of March 28.
He said, ”With the release of those abducted, the ministry plans to commence operation on the line, but not without taking proper precaution by installing necessary security gadgets to monitor the line and forestall a reoccurrence.
” It is our hope that distinguished senators and honourable members will assist the ministry in achieving this plan”.
The minister used the opportunity to further emphasise that the ministry, as part of its mandate, had continued to pursue the implementation of government policies in the Land Transport Sub- sector in the country.
He said these included issues relating to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols and conventions entered into in respect of the sub- sector.
On the National Freight Offices at Iiela, Sambo said: “We have achieved significant progress in completing the ongoing National Freight Offices at Iiela Jibiya and Idiroko in addition to other Land Transport Projects.
” With your support, the capturing of all these projects and Programmes as proposed before you in the 2023 Budget proposal will assist us further towards actualising the desired goals.
”
Earlier, the Chairman, National Assembly Committee on Land and Marine, Sen. Danjuma Goje, expressed dismay that the budget was not implemented within the fiscal year, in spite of early approval by the National Assembly.
“You see, the National Assembly has been able to achieve approval of the budgets within the budget circle; for three years, we have been able to approve these budgets by the end of December.
”Surprisingly, the implementation of the budget does not correspond with the urgency to which we attach in approving these budgets,” Goje said.
He gave the assurances that the Committees would support the minister and the agencies to succeed.
Goje then enjoined them to see that the budget was implemented faithfully, to deliver government’s intentions and democracy dividends to Nigerians.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, has said that adequate budgetary provision was needed to complete ongoing rail projects across the country.
He made this known on Thursday when he appeared before the Joint National Assembly Committee on Land and Marine Transport, chaired by Sen. Danjuma Goje.
The minister who said that adequate funding was required to complete the projects added that the ministry was equally committed to the implementation of the Nigeria Railway Modernisation project.
He said that the railway network was being progressively expanded through yearly budgetary appropriations since the Federal Government was facing challenges in securing counterpart funding through loans.
The minister said: “Currently, the implementation of the Kaduna-Kano, Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and Kano – Maradi Segments of the Railway Modernisation is ongoing with the Federal Government counterpart funding in the 2022 appropriation.
“The Ministry hopes that the Federal Ministry of Finance concludes negotiation of the loans with infrastructure development finance institutions of the Chinese, Portuguese and Turkish origin to implement the projects.
“To ensure finalising and signing of the loan agreements, evidence of source of funding of the balance of the advance payment and other aspects of work to be financed directly by the Federal Government has to be made available to these financial institutions.
“This is through adequate budgetary provisions in the year 2023 Budget and subsequent budgets,” he said.
Sambo also said that the Lagos- Ibadan segment of the Lagos-Kano and Itakpe to Warri railway projects were fully operational and receiving patronage from the general public.
To reach practical completion on the projects, the minister said that some aspects of works, including construction of overpass bridges, connection to the national grid and other ancillary provisions had to be completed.
He said: “Adequate funds need to be provided in the 2023 budget to facilitate the practical completion of the projects.
The minister lamented the sad occurrence on the Abuja-Kaduna Rail incident earlier in the year and said plans were ongoing to resume service.
He said: “With the release of those abducted, the ministry plans to commence operation on the line, but not without taking proper precaution.
”
Sambo said that necessary security gadgets would be installed to monitor the line and forestall a reoccurrence.
He expressed the hope that members of the National Assembly would assist the ministry in achieving the plan.
He told the lawmakers that his ministry had proposed a total capital budget of N92, 251,422,746 and overhead of N382, 185, 472
The minister added that the total capital appropriation of the Ministry for 2022 was N147, 549, 080, 677 out of which N52,134, 727, 253.22 representing 35.33 per cent had been released to date.
He said N38, 904, 208, 345 had been utilised as of Oct. 25 adding that in addition, the sum of N358, 799, 998 was appropriated for Overhead expenditure out of which N209, 299, 998.81 was released.
“The sum of N180, 623, 089.34 of the released amount was expended as at Oct. 25.”
Earlier, Chairman of the Joint Committee, Sen. Goje, expressed concern over the extension of the implementation of the capital component of the yearly budget beyond each fiscal year.
Goje said, “The extension of the implementation of the capital component of the annual budget by three months had defeated the success recorded by the 9th National Assembly to reverse the country’s budget cycle to January from December.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Troops of Operations Hadin Kai and Hadarin Daji have eliminated no fewer than 44 terrorists and apprehended over 50 in North East and North West in the last two week, the Defence Headquarters says.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known at a bi-weekly news briefing on the operations of the armed forces, on Thursday in Abuja.
In the North East, Danmadami said troops of operation Hadin Kai had between Oct. 20 and Nov. 2 apprehended 27 suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and neutralised 19.
Danmadami added that the troops recovered large cache of arms and ammunition of different categories as well as other logistics supplies during the period.
According to him, the air component had on Oct. 21 conducted air interdiction mission on a terrorist convoy movement along Tunbum Aliyu, near Lake Chad, a terrorist location Southwest of Maiduguri.
He said the strikes eliminated several terrorists as well as seven gun trucks and other materials.
“Similarly, based on credible intelligence of terrorist hibernating in enclaves in Abulum and Njibul near Sambisa forest, the air component struck the locations simultaneously and eliminated scores of terrorists while the injured ones were observed to be have scampered for safety.
“Also, troops in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force on Oct. 22, nabbed one suspect in possession of 67 Permanent Voter Cards at an IDPs Camp in Shuwari town in Maiduguri Municipal Council of Borno.
“Also, in the same camp, a known terrorist, Lawan Yashin, who attempted to escape upon sighting troops was neutralised.
“During the period in focus, a total of 145 Boko Haram Terrorists and their families comprising 30 adult males, 33 adult females and 82 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the North East theatre of operation,” Danmadami said.
In North West, the defence spokesman said troops of operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch neutralised 25 terrorists, arrested 18 and rescued 19 civilians in different operations.
Danmadami said the troops also recovered large cache of arms and ammunition of different calibre as well as 441 rustled cattle.
“Notably, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH on 23 October 2022 responded to the presence of terrorist at Abasia-Amala villages, east of Polewire and Maidaro villages in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and made contact with the terrorist.
“During the encounter, troops neutralized 2 terrorists, recovered 1 AK47 rifle, 2 magazines containing 38 rounds of 7.62mm special, 14 mobile phones, one Dane gun, 2 Baofeng radio as well as 11 motorcycles which were destroyed”.
He added that the troops on Oct. 24, made contact with terrorist along Buruku-Angwan Yako-Udawa road in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and rescued 10 civilians and recovered three vehicles.
The defence spokesman said the troops also neutralised two bandits and rescued nine kidnapped victims at Faskari in Katsina State and Anka in Zamfara.
“On the same day, based on credible information on Boko terrorist activities at Dumburum forest west of Kwari village in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State, the air component of Hadarin Daji carried out air bombardment at the identified terrorists location.
“Feedback of the air strike revealed that scores of terrorists were neutralized with others badly injured following the air strike,” he added.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The decision of the Nigerian state of Borno to close its camps for people displaced by the Boko Haram conflict has pushed more than 200,000 people into deeper suffering and destitution; Borno state is harming hundreds of thousands of displaced people already living in precarious conditions to further a dubious agenda to turn people away from humanitarian aid; Authorities in Borno state must stop closing the camps until they have genuinely consulted with camp residents and other key actors and made adequate plans for them to resume their lives and livelihoods.
The decision by the Borno state government in Nigeria to close its camps for people displaced by the Boko Haram conflict has pushed more than 200,000 people into deeper suffering and destitution, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
The government has failed to provide adequate alternatives to those who have been expelled, violating their rights to housing, food and livelihoods.
The 59-page report, "'Those Who Returned Are Suffering': Impact of Camp Closures on People Displaced by Boko Haram Conflict in Nigeria," documents the effect of the closures, which have disrupted food support for internally displaced people and have forced them to leave the camps.
The authorities have not provided adequate information or sustainable alternatives to ensure their safety and well-being.
As a result, displaced people struggle to meet their most basic needs, such as food and shelter, in the places to which they have returned or where they have resettled.
“The Borno state government is harming hundreds of thousands of displaced people already living in precarious conditions to further a dubious government development agenda to turn people away from humanitarian aid,” said Anietie Ewang, a Nigerian researcher at Human Rights Watch and author of the report.
“By expelling people from the camps without creating viable alternatives for support, the government is worsening their suffering and deepening their vulnerability.” From May 2021 to August 2022, authorities in Borno state forced more than 140,000 people to evacuate from eight camps in the state capital, Maiduguri.
Two other camps, Muna Badawi and 400 Housing Estate (Gubio), which house a combined total of almost 74,000 people, will also be closed this year.
Between April and September 2022, Human Rights Watch interviewed 22 IDPs, including 8 in Dalori I or Gubio camps, as well as 14 who had left Bakassi camp, which was closed in November 2021.
Those who left the Bakassi camp sought refuge in Maiduguri or Bama, their community of origin.
Human Rights Watch also interviewed camp management officials, representatives of international humanitarian agencies, and United Nations officials who coordinate assistance in Borno state.
Food support to the camps stopped shortly after Borno State Governor Babagana Umaru Zulum announced in October 2021 that all Maiduguri camps would close by December 2021.
Although several remained open beyond that date , organizations, including the United Nations World Food Program, were unable to provide support.
because scheduled closures and funding gaps made it impossible to expand their plans to 2022.
Although the Borno State Emergency Management Authority has carried out an ad hoc food distribution, deliveries have been sporadic and insufficient to meet needs.
Many people said they have been forced to skip meals or go days without eating something substantial or nutritious.
A 29-year-old father of four said: “In Maiduguri camp, we could eat protein, like fish, but in Bama we cannot afford this kind of food.
My children are not healthy like they are supposed to be.
Now they are thin and fragile.” Many children have turned to begging on the streets to survive despite the dangers of road accidents, kidnapping, trafficking and sexual violence.
People affected by the closure of the camps also live in worse accommodation than they had in the camps.
While in the camps, many had lived in canvas tents built by humanitarian organizations or occupied single rooms in houses built at the facilities before they became camps.
Structures outside the camps seen by Human Rights Watch were poorly built and provided little shelter from the rain.
Makeshift thatched structures in Maiduguri and Bama had no access to sanitation facilities and relied on separate pit latrines from their homes.
Authorities in Borno state say they had rebuilt houses in places they had urged displaced people to return to, such as Bama, which had been destroyed in the conflict with Boko Haram.
But the people who returned there said that their houses had not been rebuilt.
Officials also said the camp closures were necessary as part of their development agenda, to move people off humanitarian assistance and build their resilience to help the state grow.
This appears to be closely related to the Borno state government's 25-year development framework and 10-year strategic transformation plan, which highlight the resettlement of displaced families in safe, affordable and self-sufficient communities as a key indicator for success.
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Human Rights Watch urged the UN, especially its representatives in Nigeria, to respond more actively and effectively to prevent and mitigate harm to displaced people in Borno state, rather than wait for a more disastrous outcome.
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The Borno State authorities should suspend the closure of the remaining camps until adequate planning and genuine consultations with camp residents and other key stakeholders are in place.
"The Nigerian authorities should recognize that the hasty closure of the camps is sabotaging efforts to improve the lives of displaced people," said Ewang.
“Anything short of investing in collective efforts with aid providers to ensure durable and dignified solutions for displaced people will be a step in the wrong direction.”
