Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang has indicated commitment to enforce the state’s anti-land grabbing law in order to curb the rising trend of illegal land occupation and chaotic urban development.
Speaking on Tuesday in Jos while receiving reports from the Committees on Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Land Administration, Mutfwang expressed deep concern over what he described as the disturbing pattern of people forcefully occupying lands across the state.
He reminded the public that an anti-land grabbing law, passed under the administration of former governor Simon Lalong, remains in effect and must now be enforced.
“People cannot just see a piece of land and decide to occupy it. There is no free land anywhere in the world—somebody owns it,” Mutfwang stated. He added that his government would streamline the process for legal land acquisition but would no longer tolerate illegal occupation or construction.
The governor also warned about the growing number of unauthorized structures being erected in Jos and surrounding areas. He blamed these developments for the increasing urban slums and deterioration of the city’s aesthetics and functionality. “People build without permission.
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That is why Jos is becoming a glorified slum. It will be irresponsible of us not to arrest this trend,” Mutfwang said. He stressed that reforms would be painful but necessary, and confirmed that action would be taken against those who built homes or structures without the required permits.
Addressing builders directly, he appealed: “Go to the relevant agencies and do the proper thing.” Mutfwang promised to implement all recommendations submitted by both committees, which were set up to address long-standing issues of displacement and land mismanagement in the state.
The Chairman of the Land Administration Committee, Mr. Isaac Dimka, called on the state government to urgently develop a comprehensive master plan to guide sustainable development.
Similarly, retired Air Commodore Rwang Pam, who chaired the Resettlement Committee, emphasized the need for government to dislodge unlawful occupiers and restore ownership rights to those whose lands were forcefully taken.
The renewed attention to land rights and planning is seen as part of the governor’s broader push to restore order and justice in a state long affected by displacement, communal violence, and administrative disorder in land allocation.
NAN
