The governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has reinstated the commitment of his administration towards effective town planning and control in the state.
The governor made this declaration while he was being decorated as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Building (FNIOB) for his unquantifiable contributions to the growth and development of the building industry.
According to a report by Vanguard, the investiture of the governor was performed by the President of the Institute, Professor Yohanna Izam, in company of national and state officials of the institute.
Governor Yahaya who was visibly elated by the honour, explained that his administration established the Gombe State Geographic Information System (GOGIS) and the Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority (GOSUPDA) as part of efforts to correct the anomaly inherent in land administration and indiscriminate erection of structures in the State.
He remarked that his government equally instituted a committee on land administration and management wherein lands that are meant for public, industrial and residential buildings are reviewed and reverted back to their original purposes.
The Governor revealed that his administration through the committee on land administration and management has created a lay out to compensate individuals affected by either mis-allocation or double allocation.
He observed with dismay the flagrant abuse of building code and ethics across the country which usually gives rise to slums in major cities across the country without a clearly defined social and security facilities.
The governor said such ignoble practices pose a serious challenge not only to the people but also to the leadership, saying leaders in various capacity must work together to take Nigeria out of the current quagmire.
He revealed that despite being a fellow of some professional institutes and associations in the country, that of the NIOB is dear to him considering his long dealings with the building industry.While pledging his administration’s support to the institute, the Governor said, “The honour is not done to me alone but the entire people of the state, especially members of my cabinet who work day and night to bring about the prevailing socio-economic and infrastructural development in the State”.
Earlier speaking, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Professor Yohannah Izam said they were in the state to decorate the Governor Yahaya as FNIOB for his administrative perceptivity towards the development of associated environment that enhances quality housing as well as for his contributions to the growth and development of the built society.
He used the investiture ceremony to pay special tribute to the governor over his sagacity in developing social, economic and infrastructural dimensions of State such as the multi billion naira Muhammadu Buhari Industrial park, the network 11-100 road project among others.
He also praised the governor for maintaining the peace in the state, which he noted, facilitated the emergence of Gombe as number one in ease of doing business ranking.
