By The Governor of Taraba State has ordered an immediate halt to the illegal sale or possession of government land allocated to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), directing a full-scale investigation into the matter.
The directive, issued on Friday through the Taraba Geographic Information Service (TAGIS), warned all MDAs against converting land meant for official use into private ownership.
In a statement signed by the Director-General of TAGIS, Dr Joshua Maaku Mark, the governor stressed that lands allocated to government institutions are strictly for institutional purposes and must not be sold, leased, transferred or otherwise alienated by civil servants, public officials or their associates.
According to the statement, all MDAs are to immediately suspend any transaction involving the sale, lease, transfer or disposal of government land under their custody. Ongoing or pending transactions are to be halted without delay and reported to the appropriate authorities.
The governor further directed ministries and agencies to launch internal investigations into suspected cases of unlawful sale, lease or transfer of government-owned land to private individuals. MDAs are required to compile and submit a comprehensive list of staff members and third parties implicated in such transactions for necessary administrative and legal action.
Additionally, all ministries have been instructed to furnish TAGIS with accurate and up-to-date records of government land in their possession to facilitate proper documentation and integration into the agency’s central database.
The Governor’s Office reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public assets and strengthening transparency and accountability in land administration across the state.
Dr Mark assured ministries and agencies of the government’s highest regard while emphasising the need for strict compliance with the directive.
