The Executive Secretary of the Borno Geographic Information System (BOGIS), Engineer Adam Bababe, has inaugurated a 13-member committee tasked with demarcating boundaries and regulating developments along riverbanks and buffer zones in Maiduguri, the state capital, with immediate effect.
During the inauguration on Tuesday at the BOGIS Board Room, Bababe appointed Town Planner TPl. Liman Gana Mustapha as the Chairman of the committee, while TPl. Modu Choromi will serve as the Secretary. Other members include Police Officer ASP Abba Bukar and the legal adviser of the agency, among others.
Bababe cautioned individuals against constructing structures along waterways and buffer zones, noting that 99.9% of properties developed in 2020 were deemed illegal, lacking government titles and approvals.
He recalled the devastating flood that struck many parts of Maiduguri on September 10, which resulted in an unspecified number of deaths and submerged critical infrastructure worth billions of naira. This disaster was exacerbated by the collapse of some dykes at Alau Dam and the presence of illegal structures on waterways.
The Executive Secretary emphasized that the state government would not compensate any demolished properties located along waterways or buffer zones that do not possess legal titles or approvals from relevant authorities.
Bababe highlighted that records at the agency indicate over 1,300 illegal structures have been marked for demolition since 2020. Despite the recent disaster, many individuals whose homes were swept away have begun reconstructing, which he warned could lead to future harm.
He stated that the committee has a two-week timeframe to complete its assignment and submit recommendations for the demarcation of boundaries and regulations regarding developments along the waterways. He reiterated that approximately 99.9% of illegally developed properties along the waterways and buffer zones are at risk of demolition without compensation.
“No title, no compensation. The government will not pay anyone without a title. It is a covenant between the government and its citizens to have titles as enshrined in the Borno State Land Use Act/Law of 1975/1976,” he asserted