A coalition of 24 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) under the auspices of Save Katsina Group has urged lawmakers in Katsina State to collaborate with the state government to adopt a fit-for-purpose system of land administration in the state.
Briefing newsmen after paying an advocacy visit to the Katsina State House of Assembly, the spokesperson for the group, Hamza Umar Saulawa, explained that adopting a fit-for-purpose approach to land administration will make land management more efficient, simple, transparent, and inclusive. He also noted that the novel approach will result in a win-win situation for all in the state.
“On one hand, it will increase and open new sources of internally generated revenue for the state, improve internal security, and provide orderly planning of urban and rural areas in the state.
“On the other hand, it will also add value to landowners, homeowners, business owners, and corporate bodies by providing them with secure and bankable rights over their land holdings.
“This is because the system will simplify the acquisition of a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and keep an accurate record of all land transactions in the state.
“It will also go a long way in promoting transparency in revenue collection from the land sector, stimulating the land market and providing capital for investment for the citizens,” Saulawa said.
He noted that the new approach has been tested in many countries in Africa, especially Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, and Mozambique, where it recorded tremendous success in simplifying title registration, eliminating fraud in land transactions, and reducing to minimum levels the rampant cases of land disputes and court cases over land matters.
