Plateau Slashes Land Processing Bottlenecks, Revenue Soars After Major Ministry Overhaul

Timescope News 

The Plateau State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning has announced a major transformation in its operations, reporting substantial gains in land administration, internally generated revenue (IGR), and public service delivery following a series of reforms initiated by the Governor Caleb Mutfwang administration.

Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Barr. Peter Nyan Gai, detailed the ministry’s progress during a media briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Jos on Wednesday, while also acknowledging the hurdles that remain.

Taking over a department plagued by dilapidated infrastructure, a defunct Geographic Information System (GIS), systemic revenue leakages, and bureaucratic inertia, the ministry embarked on an aggressive modernization drive. Barr. Gai highlighted that the most critical change was a radical overhaul of land processing workflows. Through digitization and process re-engineering, the number of stages required to obtain Rights of Occupancy and Certificates of Occupancy was slashed from 46 to just 25.

"We gradually eliminated manual bottlenecks by embracing technology," the Commissioner stated. "Reducing the workflow from 46 to 25 stages has drastically improved efficiency and sped up service delivery for the people of Plateau."

Further technological leaps included the introduction of electronic signatures for Certificates of Occupancy to prevent forgery, the establishment of a centralized dispatch system, and the appointment of additional deed registrars to handle the growing caseload. The ministry also acquired land for critical state and federal industrial development projects.

On the technical side, the Survey Department has reinforced compliance with professional standards and collaborated with licensed surveyors to restore vital survey control signals. In Town Planning, the ministry has adopted digital mapping and aerial imagery for site inspections, while contributing to the development of the Greater Jos Master Plan, alongside plans for Riyom, Mangu, and Heipang.

The commissioner noted that staff morale has received a boost through office renovations, professional training, and transportation support. However, the most tangible result has been the financial turnaround. By automating revenue collection and tightening accountability, the ministry has successfully blocked leakages and significantly increased its IGR.

"The Ministry of Lands has been repositioned as a key driver of sustainable development through transformational leadership and innovation," Gai asserted. "We are now more efficient, service-oriented, and financially robust."

Despite these successes, the Commissioner candidly addressed ongoing challenges, calling for urgent interventions to address a critical shortage of professional staff, obsolete equipment, inadequate operational funding, and the pressing need for a complete upgrade of the state's GIS infrastructure to sustain the current momentum.