A committee set up by the Plateau State government to resettle displaced communities and persons has recommended the immediate eviction of individuals illegally occupying land and houses in the state.
The recommendation was made by the committee’s chairman, Christopher Rwang, a retired Air Commodore, during the presentation of their report to Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the Government House in Jos on Tuesday.
The committee, led by Mr. Rwang, also suggested the construction of 14 permanent mini-barracks for the most vulnerable communities. According to the report, 281 communities have been displaced in four local government areas over the past 15 years.
In a separate report, the Committee on Land Administration, chaired by Barr. Isaac Dimka, recommended the development of a new Jos Master Plan to reorganize the state capital into a modern city. The committee also advised the government to discontinue the issuance of manual land titles to prevent cases of missing documents.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, after receiving the reports, assured that they would be thoroughly studied and implemented. He expressed concern about retired civil servants refusing to vacate government properties and some officials destroying records to cover up illicit deals. The governor vowed to recover all public properties and lands illegally occupied by individuals.
Mutfwang also lamented the proliferation of unauthorized buildings in Jos, warning that those who built without permits would be held accountable. He described Jos city as a “glorified slum” and emphasized the need for proper planning to ensure the city’s development.
“Jos city has become a glorified slum. If we allow this to continue, we don’t know what the capital city (Jos) will become in the next ten years; we want to ensure that the right thing is done”
The two committees were established by Governor Mutfwang on March 25, 2025, with an initial timeframe of one month, which was later extended due to the numerous memoranda received from the public.
