By Williams Danjuma, Gombe
In a move to strengthen Gombe State’s land administration and improve urban planning and development, Governor Inuwa Yahaya has appointed Dr. Kabiru Usman Hassan as Executive Chairman, Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Agency (GOSUPDA).
Dr. Kabiru Usman Hassan had completed a six year tenure as the Director-General, Gombe Geographic Information Systems (GOGIS) where he executed incredible reforms as well as digitized and modernised land property systems for the State.
Dr Kabiru’s appointment was among other appointments announced today by the Secretary to the Gombe State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, through Ismaila Uba Misilli, the Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House Gombe.
He said the appointments were aimed at strengthen Governance and support the Inuwa Yahaya administration’s economic, political, social and community engagement programmes.
Tens and thousands of land records and layouts were digitized and upgraded as part of reforms deliberately executed to modernise land administration in the State by Dr Kabiru Usman Hassan.
GOGIS under Dr Kabiru, was reported to have established modern operational structures, built a permanent service centre and introduced digital Certificates of Occupancy.
It also modernised its geospatial mapping systems, strengthened physical planning processes, improved internally generated revenue and enhanced stakeholder engagement.
These reforms have positioned the agency to sustain its achievements beyond the tenure of any individual office holder and many see these as a way forward in a sector characterized by rancour, crises, fraud and brazen corruption in some States.
Credit goes to GOGIS under Dr Kabiru for the strict reliance on the original master plan in developing areas such as Shehu Abubakar District, among many other emerging areas and settlements within and outside Gombe, the Gombe State capital.
This is apart from adequately compensating individuals and groups who were innocently or ignorantly caught in the web of irregularities that had characterized land ownership in Gombe State.
Dr. Kabiru Usman had once told Journalists that the reform process was marked by institutional resistance, legal complexities, operational constraints, public misconceptions and personal intimidation.
He however noted that the experience underscored the importance of integrity, consistency and commitment to public service while acknowledging that, “not all the agency’s objectives were achieved as some of our decisions attracted criticism”.
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