By Simeon OSAJIE
As part of his familiarisation tour to understudy and get acquainted with technical and professional land governance systems in other existing State Geographic Information Service (GIS) outfits in Nigeria, the Managing Director, Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), Dr. Innocent Ehi Bello has interfaced with his Nasarawa counterpart, Dr. Sonny Agasi, Director-General, Nasarawa State Geographic Information Service (NAGIS) at his office in Karu, Nasarawa State.
Welcoming Dr. Bello, Hon. Agasi recounted his earlier meeting with Dr. Bello (as former National Secretary of the Nigerian Cartographic Association -NCA), when he paid him a similar courtesy visit in 2023 as part of preparations to host the 2023 International Conference of the Nigerian Cartographic Association at FuLafia, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Hon. Agasi thanked Dr. Bello immensely for his humility to conduct a firsthand assessment of the facilities, software, and working ethics in NAGIS and harped on the benefits of effective networking and collaboration of State GIS outfits across the country.
He emphasised the need to rally round one another as State GIS managers with a view to tackling land disputes, insecurity and ethnic violence arising from land racketeering and trespasses.
The DG, NAGIS informed Dr. Bello that his success was made possible because the Executive Governor, Engr. A.A. Sule, gave him all the support to continue to preside over land matters since he assumed duty over 7 years ago.
He noted that he currently reports directly to the Governor on matters of land administration in the State, and this helps the Governor to be properly briefed with firsthand information.
He said that since NAGIS doesn’t report to any Ministry, the job has become more professional to discharge without bureaucratic rigidities.
He advocated for more State GIS outfits so as to easily track landed properties, their locations, uses, and the resources therein and emphasized the need to rally round one another as state GIS managers with a view to tackling land disputes, insecurity, and ethnic violence arising from land racketeering and trespasses .
This, he said, will help to achieve reliable and effective land Titling system, easy and transparent processing and issuance of C-of-O as well as helping the government to tackle land grabbers, process and pay compensation when the need arises.
He said that such networking will further help to increase and enhance the internally generated revenue of the States through various land services, including ground rent calculation, valuation, and collections of other necessary fees for the government using reliable land databases.
Earlier, Dr. Bello informed Hon. Agasi that the purpose of his visit was to share in his experience as DG of NAGIS for several years.
He equally thanked Hon. Agasi, staff and management of the State Land Agency for the high level of professionalism in handling land matters, noting that the existing good governance in the state is truly a reflection of available land information and other geospatial datasets produced by NAGIS, which enables the Executive Governor, H. E. Engr. A. A. Sule, to make informed decisions.
Dr. Bello stated that his relationship with different state GIS outfits dates back to 2006, beginning with the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), Abuja.
He stressed the need for all state GIS outfits to collaborate, network and share ideas on effective and efficient land management in Nigeria.
He also promised to continue to consult and share ideas on land governance that could be of help to other states, pointing out that the Government of Edo State, ably led by His Excellency, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, is adopting policies and measures aimed at enhancing ease of doing business in Edo State.
He asserted that EdoGIS currently provides reliable land information for good governance in Edo and thanked the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, H.E. Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, for ensuring that there is stability in the leadership of NAGIS by retaining and supporting Hon. Agasi in the discharge of his duties as the defacto boss since his assumption of office.
Dr. Bello promised to domesticate in Edo, his experiences, very cordial relationship and warm reception accorded him during his four-day tour of the facilities in Karu and Lafia as well as the various meetings held with stakeholders on land governance in Nasarawa State.
High point of the meeting was a group photograph of the duo with the Sarkin Gurku, HRH, Alhaji Jibrin Waziri in the company of the site engineer constructing the Abuja-Keffi highway who were also in attendance.