Nasarawa: where you get Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in 30 days- NAGIS

Nasarawa:  where you get Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in 30 days- NAGIS

Getting a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in most Nigerian states has always been a major challenge, but in Nasarawa state, North-Central Nigeria,  Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura makes its available within 30 days.

Martha Dada, Stakeholder Relations officer of Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS) tells me.

Presentation of orthrophoto of Karu Palace to the Esu Karu by Ibrahim Jibril, NAGIS Project Manager and Peter Ritchie, Senior Consultant.

What is the Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS)?

NAGIS is a Nasarawa government agency created by His Excellency Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to give support to the development vision of the Governor and to enable Nasarawa government officials through comprehensive training programmes in realizing the development aspirations of the citizens of Nasarawa state. It is one of the three components of the Nasarawa Development Platform (NDP) Project. The other equally two important components are Aerial Photos & Mapping, and Urban Planning & Urban Renewal.

NAGIS working with the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development (MLUD)

Recognizing that secure land tenure is the bedrock of successful socio-economic policies, the Governor has stated that every household, every business and every farm in Nasarawa should hold a Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O). NAGIS will make this vision a reality.

NAGIS provides the technical platforms that enable the digitization of all land records, and the automation and optimization of the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development (MLUD) land administration processes, procedures, services and products. NAGIS customer service will result in faster transaction times, enabling land owners to efficiently secure their land tenure and to register all land transactions. NAGIS aims to process C-of-O for final confirmation and signature by the Governor within 30 days from final survey.

NAGIS Aerial Photography and Maps

NAGIS has already photographed the entire state using a purpose built aircraft and photogrammetric camera. All the urban centres have been captured on high resolution 10cm images, while all other rural areas are available in 25cm images. These 'Ortho-photo' images are used to confirm survey coordinates, land use and development control.

These images are used to develop and produce accurate standard maps that can be applied for multiple purposes including cadastral, commercial development planning, transport, agriculture and forestry, and environmental protection. These maps provide a valuable resource that will support urban planning and renewal and rural development.

NAGIS will develop and produce standard maps as a service to government MDAs and also direct to the public.

Esu Karu pledges to partner NAGIS

Esu Karu making his point to David Attah, Karu Area Officer, Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, with Ibrahim Jibril, NAGIS Project Manager and Peter Ritchie, Senior Consultant looking on.

 The Esu Karu, in  Nasarawa State, Pham. Luka Panya Baba  has express his preparedness to partner the Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS), in achieving its objectives.

Esu Karu speaking when NAGIS Project Manager Ibrahim Usman Jibril, paid  an official courtesy visit  to the traditional ruler, assured NAGIS of his full support and his belief that NAGIS will make a positive impact on the people of Nasarawa and in the socio-economic development of Nasarawa state

A statement signed by NAGIS Stakeholder Relations officer, Martha Dada said Jibril was accompanied by Peter Ritchie, Senior Consultant and David Dole Attah, Karu Area Officer, Ministry of Lands and Urban Development.

The statement quoted Jubril to have informed the traditional ruler on the progress made so far in the implementation of the project, assuring the Esu Karu that the NAGIS infrastructure and technical systems are now in place, and NAGIS staff are ready to serve the state government and the public.

He said NAGIS is now able to generate Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) within 30 days from the final survey.

Jibril also noted that the entire state has already been photographed using a purpose built aircraft and photogrammetric camera, the first state in Nigeria with access to such high quality images.

He presented the Esu Karu with an orthophoto of the Palace of the Esu Karu, saying such images are used by NAGIS to inform survey, development control and planning.

He said NAGIS plans further stakeholder outreach meetings across Nasarawa that will include town hall meetings in Akwanga and Lafia.

He said NAGIS visits  to the Esu Karu is to seek advice and his support, including ensuring proper attendance of the upcoming town hall meetings scheduled to take place in Karu on Saturday, 23 November 2013.

Nigerian shines at Commonwealth, emerge as youth council chair

A Nigerian, Ahmed Adamu  yesterday emerged as the chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) at a keenly contested election.
Adamu  will chair the new body, which will be the recognised voice of the 1.2 billion young people of the Commonwealth, and a framework for youth-led development initiatives.   
 The inaugural Executive of the Council would serve a two year term until the next CYC General Assembly in Mauritius in 2015.
Other winners of the election are: Vice Chairperson (Policy, Advocacy & Projects): Sudharshana Lakshmi from India; Vice Chairperson (Partnerships & Resources): Sadham Zarjahan from Sri Lanka; Vice Chairperson (Inclusion & Engagement): Mohamed Husni from Sri Lanka; Regional Representative – Africa & Europe: Kiziah Philbert from Kenya; Regional Representative – Asia: Tharika Dileepani from Sri Lanka; Regional Representative – Caribbean & Americas: Royden Beharry from Grenada; Regional Representative – Pacific: Harry James from Solomon Islands and Representative – Special Interest Groups: Wathsala Samarakoon from Sri Lanka.
Five Nigerian youths were among the Fifty-three candidates from 21 countries standing for nine executive posts including Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons, regional and special interests representatives of the Commonwealth Youth Council.
Over the past two days at the Commonwealth Youth Forum  in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, candidates from national youth bodies across the 53 countries of the Commonwealth have been campaigning for the right to lead the CYC.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Breaking News:Lecturer dies in ghastly auto accident on way to ASUU meeting, Professor Festus Iyayi is dead

Professor Festus Iyayi is dead.

 Comrade  Iyayi a former National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) died in a car accident early hours of today on his way to a meeting in resolving the ongoing strike action.

He was heading for the Kogi State Congress of the university union when died.

Festus Iyayi (born 1947, in Ugbegun in Ishan) is a Nigeria writer known for his radical and sometimes tough stance on social and political issues. Iyayi employs a realistic style of writing, depicting the social, political and moral environment and system both the rich and poor live and work in.

As a member of staff of the University, he became interested in radical social issues, and a few years after his employment, he became the president of the local branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), a radical union known for its upfront style on academic and social welfare. He rose to the position of president of the national organization in 1986, but in 1988, the union was briefly banned and Iyayi was detained, in that same year he won the Commonwealth Prize for Literature for his book Heroes. He was later removed from his faculty position.  

Iyayi  in an interview said he  was asked to pack faeces with my bare hands in  under the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.

Professor Festus Iyayi  has warned that the stability of Nigeria will be threatened if the problem of youth unemployment