LET US LEARN TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER-Mutfwang.By Onjefu Odaudu,Jos, Nigeria.

The Governor of Plateau State Barrister Caleb Mannaseh Muttwang has urged citizens to eschew any tendency that will lead to the breach of peace.

He stated this at the Little Rayfield Government House Jos, Nigeria on tuesday 6 May 2025 when he recieved the report of two committees which were set up last year.They are those of land administration headed by a former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Barrister Isaac Dimka ànd the task force on resettlement of displaced persons headed by Air Commodore Rwang Christopher Pam(Rtd)

Presenting his report Barrister Isaac Dimka said urban regional laws should be enforced in the state to prevent urban slums while presenting the 167 page document.

He added that the report contained extensive public consultations with various stakeholders alongside challenges and far reaching recommendations such as the rapid development of the greater Jos master plan.

Presenting his report the Chairman on the task force on resettlement of displaced persons Air Commodore Rwang Christopher Pam retreatriared that him and his team visited the displaced persons in Mangu,Bokkos,Riyom Bassa and Barkin Ladi to get first information from the affected victims in the affected communities and were able to understand the magnitude of the crisis and the level of destruction by terrorists and were able to come up with a comprehensive plan on how they could return to their ancestral homes.

Governor Mutfwang described the resettlement report as a critical milestone in the administration's effort to restore hope and rebuild shattered communities. He disclosed plans to present the report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure urgent federal support for its implementation.

“For the Task Force on Resettlement, I want to thank you sincerely. You took personal risks, traveling to volatile areas to complete your assignment. Your work is commendable,” the Governor stated. “The displacement of our people has lasted over two decades. When I publicly said some communities had been taken over, I was vilified. But today, your report vindicates that assertion.

While earlier on recieving the land administration committe report Muttwang retreatriared that “We have paid billions of naira in compensation for the same parcels of land due to missing or manipulated records,” he lamented. “In some cases, individuals have returned to court to obtain fresh judgments on land for which compensation had already been paid, all because records were not properly kept.”

He accused some retired civil servants of deliberately withholding official documents, frustrating efforts to trace land transactions and resulting in repeated losses for the state. He announced that a separate taskforce is currently working to recover misappropriated public assets and called on whistleblowers to step forward.

“For the sake of Plateau State, we urge those with institutional knowledge and evidence to speak out. Many public assets have been converted for personal use. If everyone who served did the same, there would be nothing left for future generations,” he said.

The Governor further decried the lack of proper documentation for properties in Jos, revealing that over 90 percent of buildings in the capital lack valid titles and development approvals. He warned that if the trend continues, Jos risks degenerating into a “glorified slum.”

“We will no longer tolerate lawlessness. Illegal developers must immediately begin the process of regularizing their properties. Enforcement will commence soon, and it should not be mistaken for oppression, it is a duty to restore order,” he declared.

To address these challenges, Governor Mutfwang announced ongoing efforts to digitize land records and upgrade the Geographic Information System (GIS) for improved access to property documentation. The initiative will allow citizens to apply for Certificates of Occupancy and land titles online, from the comfort of their homes.

He also stated his administration's commitment to enforcing the Anti-Land Grabbing Law, enacted by the previous government, emphasizing that every piece of land in Plateau State has an owner an the urgency of tackling land grabbing and restoring public confidence in land governance. Governor Mutfwang applauded both committees for their diligence and assured that the reports would not be ignored and would be fully implemented to the latter.

“These reports will not gather dust. We will study them carefully and implement actionable recommendations. The private sector will be instrumental in rehabilitating abandoned government housing estates,” he emphasized.

In attendance at the epoch event were the State deputy Governor Ngo Josephine Piyo the Secretary to the government of the State Arc. Samuel Jatau among other top dignitaries.