by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Governor, Barr Caleb Mutfwang, has received two reports of Committee of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) – that’s the Task Force on Resettlement – and Committee on Land Administration.
Presenting the report on Tuesday at Government House, Little Reyfield Jos, the Committee on Land Administration, chaired by Barr. Isaac Dimka, submitted a 167-page report containing extensive public consultations, challenges, and strategic recommendations.
IDPs’ Resettlement.
According to Barr Dimka, the key among them are, immediate development of a new Greater Jos Master Plan; passage and domestication of the Urban and Regional Planning Laws of the Federation; and enforcement of Plateau State High Court judgments in Suits No. PPDL/J111/2005 and PDL/BL12/2013.
He said, the report also emphasized the urgency of tackling land grabbing and restoring public confidence in land governance.
In his response, Governor Caleb Mutfwang commended both committees for their diligence and assured that the reports would not be ignored.
He stated thus: “These reports will not gather dust; we will study them carefully and implement actionable recommendations. The private sector will be instrumental in rehabilitating abandoned government housing estates.”
The governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the safe and dignified return of internally-displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral communities, following years of displacement caused by violent attacks from suspected terrorists.
The Resettlement Committee was inaugurated in March, 2024, to facilitate the phased return of displaced persons.
While describing the resettlement report as a “critical milestone” in the administration’s effort to restore hope and rebuild shattered communities, Gov Mutfwang promised to present the report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu so as to secure urgent federal support for its implementation.
He also thanked the Task Force on Resettlement, acknowledging that they took personal risks, traveling to volatile areas to complete their assignment.
The governor noted that, “Their work is commendable. The displacement of our people has lasted over two decades. When I publicly said some communities had been taken over, I was vilified. But today, your report vindicates that assertion,” he stated.
The Resettlement Task Force was chaired by Air Commodore Christopher Pam (rtd), who recommended a phased-return of IDPs, supported by adequate security arrangements and the provision of reconstruction materials to rebuild destroyed homes and infrastructure.
Governor Mutfwang, while expressing deep concern over the scale of corruption uncovered in the land sector, noted that several government officials were implicated in the illegal sale of public lands and diversion of proceeds.
“We have paid billions of naira in compensation for the same parcels of land due to missing or manipulated records, while in some cases, individuals have returned to court to obtain fresh judgments on land for which compensation had already been paid, all because records were not properly kept,” he said.
He observed that, some retired civil servants are deliberately withholding official documents, frustrating efforts to trace land transactions and resulting in repeated losses for the state.
He explained that a separate taskforce is currently working to recover misappropriated public assets, and called on whistleblowers to step forward.
According to him, for the sake of Plateau State, he urged those with institutional knowledge and evidence to speak out, adding that, “Many public assets have been converted for personal use. If everyone who served did the same, there would be nothing left for future generations,” he said.
The governor further decried the lack of proper documentation for properties in Jos, revealing that over 90 percent of buildings in the capital lack valid titles and development approvals, and warned that, if the trend continues, Jos risks degenerating into a “glorified slum.”
“We will no longer tolerate lawlessness. Illegal developers must immediately begin the process of regularizing their properties. Enforcement will commence soon, and it should not be mistaken for oppression; it is a duty to restore order,” he declared.
To address these challenges, Governor Mutfwang announced ongoing efforts to digitize land records and upgrade the Geographic Information System (GIS) for improved access to property documentation. The initiative will allow citizens to apply for Certificates of Occupancy and land titles online, from the comfort of their homes.
He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to enforcing the Anti-Land Grabbing Law, enacted by the previous government, and emphasized that every piece of land in Plateau State has an owner and is protected by law.