The Taraba State Government, through the Director-General of the Taraba Geographic Information Service (TAGIS), Dr Mark Ma’aku Joshua, has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in possession of government land to desist from selling, allocating, leasing or otherwise disposing of such land without approval from the state government.

Dr Joshua warned that any transaction carried out outside the approved process would be declared null and void.

The directive was issued on Monday in Jalingo as TAGIS commenced the strict enforcement of the Greater Jalingo Master Plan, a move aimed at ensuring orderly urban development and protecting government-owned land within the state capital territory.

In a statement, the TAGIS Director-General announced that all land within a 30-kilometre radius of the Greater Jalingo area had been comprehensively planned by the government.

“No land within the designated area should be sold, developed, allocated, or otherwise disposed of without the express approval of TAGIS and in line with the approved land-use provisions,” Dr Joshua said.

According to him, the Greater Jalingo Master Plan would be strictly implemented and enforced in all land-related activities within the area to prevent indiscriminate development.

“The enforcement of the master plan is designed to ensure orderly physical development, prevent land use conflicts, protect public assets, promote coordinated infrastructure development, and support sustainable urban growth across the capital territory,” he explained.

He added that the effective implementation of the master plan would contribute to building a well-planned, organised and prosperous Greater Jalingo that would benefit both present and future generations.

The TAGIS Director-General also urged members of the public, traditional institutions, property developers and other stakeholders to comply fully with the directive as enforcement of the master plan takes effect.