PLAGIS: Commissioner Announces Stakeholders Meeting.

Following the launching of the Plateau State Geographical Information System (PLAGIS) and the issuing of land titles with Thomson Reuters’ Aumentum, in partnership with Teqbridge Limited of Nigeria, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Lands, Survey & Town Planning, Jos, Hon. Festus V. Fuanter has called for a stakeholders meeting for the downward review of the various rates of land administration within the state.

Speaking on the “Morning Drive” radio show on Silverbirds’ Rhythm 93.7 Jos, Hon. Festus V. Fuanter, said that a meeting of stakeholders will held on Thursday 1^st September 2016 at the Conference Hall of Hill Station Hotel, Jos. According to the commissioner, this meeting is an opportunity for the everyone to come forward and look at what is currently obtainable in the Ministry including what is going on at the PLAGIS.

The commissioner said that “…we intend to let out a lot of things out of the bag, owing to the fact that the government, being a listening government that is sensitive to the plight of the people have granted us the permission to consider a downward review of the various rates of land administration within the state.”.

The commissioner highlighted on discovery with the launching of the PLAGIS, that the rates that were charge-able for land, ground rent, processing of documents and other transaction were high; and then after a review and analysis of rates currently existing in surrounding states which include Bauchi, Nasarawa, Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa and part of the FCT Abuja with whom Plateau State share similar economic situations, it was discovered that the rates for state were high; which was the reason why the Ministry had not received the response in terms of the enthusiasm anticipated from the launch of PLAGIS. The Ministry expected that having gone over ten (10) years without issuing titles, lot of more people would come forward to pursue their respective land titles.

According to Hon. Festus V. Fuanter, “Looking at the current economic situations (in the country), we approached the governor who graciously agreed that we should consider a downward review, so we are going to discuss all this at the stakeholders meeting…”. For this meeting, the stakeholders would include traditional rulers (who are custodian of some of the various land properties), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Town Planning Association of Nigeria, Religious Leaders and Land Agents. The commissioner at the end of the meeting hopes to hold a press conference to issue a communique and inform the public on conclusion(s) of the meeting so as to ensure transparent governance.