The Gombe State Government has announced a final extension for the recertification of plots and the collection of allocation letters in the Shehu Abubakar District.
Speaking at a press briefing in Gombe, the Director-General of the Gombe Geographic Information Systems (GOGIS), Dr Kabiru Usman Hassan, stated that the exercise will now run until Friday, 16 January 2026, effective from Monday, 5 January 2026.
Dr Hassan emphasised that the extension is strictly for eligible allottees who previously participated in the documentation and verification process.
He outlined the requirements for collection, saying, “Affected individuals are required to present an acknowledgement slip for documentation, original title documents, one recent passport-sized photograph, and a valid means of identification, such as a National Identity Card, international passport, or driver’s licence.”
Applicants who have lost their documents must provide a certified true copy of a police extract, a sworn affidavit, and evidence of publication in a newspaper. Where an allottee is unavailable, a duly executed letter of authority will suffice.
Dr Hassan warned that failure to collect allocation letters or complete the recertification process within the final extended deadline will be treated as a voluntary forfeiture. “Such plots,” he said, “will revert to the Gombe State Government and be reallocated according to existing laws, policies, and regulations without further notice.”
Verification will take place on working days only, between 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m., excluding weekends and public holidays, he added.
The GOGIS Director-General also urged the public to disregard rumours or misinformation and direct all enquiries regarding payments, penalties, and allocations solely to GOGIS.
Dr Hassan recalled that the Gombe State Government lawfully revoked all Rights of Occupancy over lands within the former BAP 4 Layout pursuant to Executive Order No. 007 of 2024. The revocation, he explained, complied with Section 28 of the Land Use Act, following breaches of grant conditions and considerations of overriding public interest.
Following this, GOGIS initiated a comprehensive land reform and regularisation programme, which included redesigning the layout, verifying interests, documenting allottees, and recertifying eligible individuals. This culminated in the formal renaming of the area as Shehu Abubakar District.
“About 200 allottees have completed verification so far, while approximately 150 are yet to do so,” Dr Hassan noted, adding that the district contains over 600 plots.
He reiterated Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and efficient land administration, emphasising that all legitimate interests would be protected under the Land Use Act.
