From Usman Abubakar, in Maiduguri
Internally displaced persons (IDPs), women and other vulnerable residents of Maiduguri metropolitan council and its adjoining Jere LGA will now own plots of land as legal assets, under a UKAid-funded Systematic Land Titling (SLT) project.
The project, designed and implemented by the University of Manchester-led African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), in collaboration with the Borno State Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), aims to transform informal land claims into secure legal assets, specifically targeting the protection of women, displaced persons, and vulnerable residents.
The Rehabilitation Empowerment and Better Health Initiative (REBHI) convened a high-level town hall meeting in Maiduguri, Tuesday as a key stage in the project implementation.
The summit marked a transition from traditional verbal agreements to legally recognized land titles under the BOGIS).
The project aims to transform informal land claims into secure legal assets, specifically targeting the protection of those groups rendered vulnerable by over a decade of insecurity.
Noting that the project aims at transforming traditional custodianship into legal security, Dr. Babakura Bukar, lead researcher for the ACRC, emphasized that the project moves beyond academic study into direct urban transformation.
“In Maiduguri, we are turning traditional land claims into legal titles,” Dr. Bukar stated.
“These documents are more than just paper; they are financial assets that empower residents to secure their future and provide lasting tenure security.”
The event saw a significant turnout of traditional leaders, including Bulamas (ward heads) and Lawans (village heads), alongside women leaders and heads of community-based organizations.
“This project is about giving our people real power,” said Mrs. Ajikatu Imam, Executive Director of REBHI. “When you have a legal title, you aren’t just living in a house—you own a protected asset.”
Proactive Conflict Resolution and Inclusivity A critical component of the initiative is the inauguration of Conflict Prevention and Resolution Committees.
Led by Ambassador Ahmed Shehu of the Peace Ambassadors Center and Comrade Bulama Abiso, Executive Director of Civil Society in Borno State, these committees will serve as mediators to resolve boundary disputes before they escalate into formal litigation or communal conflict. ENDS
