Ministry of Lands/Survey Will be one of the Top Revenue Generating Ministries- Commissioner

Barrister Peter Nyam Gai, the Plateau State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning has said he is determined to elevate the ministry to a ‘special ministry’ status in the State.

The Commissioner was speaking at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Plateau State Council Secretariat on Thursday, where he outlined some achievements and his vision for the ministry.

He said his vision is to make the ministry one of the top revenue-generating agencies in Plateau State, second only to the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service.

“This vision drives every decision and action I take as your Commissioner.” He added.

To achieve that vision, the Commissioner said he is creating an enabling environment that would boost the ministry’s staff moral for effective service delivery.

“I deeply value the dedication and hard work of our staff. To enhance their working environment, I provided better office accommodations, introduced bus tickets, and established a well-being center, all aimed at improving staff morale and productivity.” He explained.

He said upon assuming office as a Commissioner, he met the ministry in a decayed infrastructure, so he made it a priority to renovate and remodel the town planning block, and for the first time, they have a fully functional boardroom to facilitate their operations.

He said he also inherited a system where land title processing required up to 88 workflows, and realizing the inefficiency, he took steps to streamline the processes, which it significantly reduced the time it takes to process applications.

Barr. Gai noted that under his leadership, the ministry has moved away from the outdated manual system, where he spearheaded the transition to an automated GIS platform. According to him, the transformation has reduced the time required to issue certificates of occupancy from several years to just two to three months.

“I have noticed that delays in processing land titles often stem from applicants failing to pay the necessary fees. I have urged the public to comply with all requirements to prevent incomplete applications and unnecessary delays.

“Under my leadership, the Ministry has seen a substantial increase in revenue. From generating ₦173 million between January and September 2023, we have nearly tripled that figure in 2024, reaching almost ₦500 million by August. He said.

He noted that with the implementation of the GIS platform, they can now prevent land encroachments more effectively, saying before issuing any title, they thoroughly check for potential encroachments to protect the integrity of land ownership.

He regretted that despite offering a 50% rebate on ground rent, he noticed that many landowners are yet to take advantage of it and encouraged all landowners to pay their ground rent promptly to avoid future penalties and ensure the sustainability of their operations.

“One of our challenges has been the issue of missing files, particularly those not yet digitized. To address this, I am considering the implementation of a document management system that will digitize all remaining files, ensuring data security and easy access.”

The Commissioner said the ministry has required more land officers and town planners to meet their growing demands and to also ensure efficiency.

Barrister Peter Nyam Gai emphasized that because they are operating under a government that is dedicated to transparency and public accountability, they are committed to ensuring that every official in the Ministry can give a clear account of their stewardship to maintain public trust.