Gombe NBA Urges Governor Yahaya to Reverse Revoked BAP 4 Layout
The Gombe branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) has urged the state Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, to reverse the revocation of the BAP 4 Layout due to alleged irregularities.
It said the revocation contravenes the Land Use Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and judicial authorities.
The NBA made the disclosure in a statement at its meeting of 26 September, 2024 signed by its Chairman, Benjamin Sati, Esq, and Legal Adviser, Abubakar Bafeto Esq.
Governor Yahaya issued an Executive Order 007 of 2024 revoking occupancy rights for the lands published in a paid advertorial placed in a national daily which he personally signed.
The revocation followed an audit report by the state’s Project Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation (PIME) Committee, which revealed multiple violations of the land grant terms.
According to the governor, the BAP 4 Layout, allocated by the former Bauchi State Government before the creation of Gombe State in 1996, has experienced over forty years of neglect and underdevelopment.
But the NBA urged the governor to suspend the documentation processes related to the revocation to prevent unnecessary litigation and ensure all land revocations adhere to established legal frameworks, safeguarding the rights of landholders.
It also advised the governor to create independent bodies to investigate any allegations of non-development of allocated land and if found wanting, can be revoked individually as well as implement policies for clear communication regarding land ownership and revocation processes sating that addressing these issues are essential for fostering a fair and equitable society.In the revocation notice, the Governor explained that the primary reason was the grantees’ failure to adhere to the conditions of their land grants.
According to him, the audit uncovered numerous issues, including the non-development of plots, illegal land use changes and extensive encroachments, noting that the violations had disrupted the original layout, affecting public use areas such as schools, healthcare facilities and roads, and failed to meet modern planning standards.
The affected lands include near New Mile 3, Wuro Liman, Gombe International Hotel; and Orji and Shongo estates in the Western and South Western parts of Gombe metropolis which the governor said would be subject to redesign and reallocation.
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