BY YUNUSA BUNU ZANNA, AUGUST 07, 2025 | 02:19 PM

Two hundred women and peoples with disability in Maiduguri have been issued Certificates of Occupancy as part of the validation and close-out activities for the Systematic Land Titling Pilot Project, SLTP.

The initiative was spearheaded by the Rehabilitation Empowerment and Better Health Initiative, REBHI, in collaboration with the African Cities Research Consortium, ACRC and the Borno State Geographic Information Service BOGIS.

The close-out meeting, held at the Borno State Hotel in Maiduguri, brought together key stakeholders—including traditional rulers, government officials, academics, religious leaders, and representatives of vulnerable communities.

Participants were sensitised on the importance of obtaining formal land titles through BOGIS as a crucial step in protecting land ownership rights and preventing future disputes.

Barr. Fatima Shehu Imam, the executive director of REBHI, explained that the project is aimed at supporting what the government is currently doing in transforming customary land titling to formal titling.

'This is to ensure your land is secure to avoid disputes arising from customary titling,' said Fatima.

'What we have done is to support 100 women and 100 people with disabilities with free registration to obtain their land titles.

'We also supported 1000 men with ₦5000 form fee as the complete ₦20000 administrative fee to obtain their title,' she added.

Sheikh Muhammad Mustapha Albarnawi, a religious leader, commended the organisers and appealed to the public to obtain their formal title as the world is fast moving and things are changing.

'With the way things are going, people stand the risk of losing their lands to fraudsters;as such, I call on the general public to go and obtain their formal land titles with BOGIS.'

He also encouraged organisers to expand community outreach to ensure grassroots awareness of the importance of legal land documentation.

In response to concerns raised about bureaucratic delays, a representative from BOGIS assured attendees that efforts are ongoing to fast-track the process and make it more accessible to the public.

Brief about REBHI and ACRC Rehabilitation Empowerment and Better Health Initiative (REBHI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering vulnerable communities and creating a society where equality and protection thrive.

Equally, African Research Cities Consortium, ACRC is a team of researchers and organisations thas operates in 13 African cities that include Maiduguri, Lagos, Nairobi, Kampala, Accra, Dar es Salaam, Addis Ababa and Harare. It is based in the University of Manchester.

ACRC has been supporting projects aimed at fostering development in areas such as political settlement, safety and security, land and connectivity, and youth empowerment.

It is within this context that transition project is conceived and implemented in Maiduguri.

The SLTP is part of broader efforts under ACRC to promote inclusive urban governance and sustainable development in African cities.