The Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS) has warned residents to beware of fraudulent land transactions being promoted by individuals and organizations in the state.
The agency said the illegal deals involve government lands and plots already allocated by the Borno State Government.
In a statement on Tuesday, BOGIS listed several locations where the fraudulent sales are taking place.
They include NE/2352 along Yerima Road off Baga Road, BOSG/493 (IDC Shuwari), BO/7422 on BOTP/107B Block B Ngaddabul, BO/27098 behind NNPC Depot, Shagari Low-Cost B, the Solar Plant site behind Al-Ansar University, and an area north of Gubio Housing Estate.
BOGIS reminded the public that all land layouts in Borno State — whether public or private — are valid only when jointly processed by BOGIS and the Borno State Urban Planning and Development Board.
They must also be approved by the Governor of Borno State before they can be considered legal.
“Any transaction outside this procedure is fraudulent and has no legal effect,” the agency stated.
It cited the Land Use Act, Cap. L5 LFN 2004, which vests the control and ownership of all land in the Governor.
The agency also referred to the Supreme Court ruling in AG Lagos vs AG Federation & 35 Ors (2003), which upheld that state governments have the authority to manage, control, and administer land — even when ownership was previously held by the federal government or its agencies.
BOGIS emphasized that only the agency has the legal authority to allocate land in urban areas of Borno State.
It added that local government authorities are the only institutions permitted to allocate land in rural areas.
The agency strongly advised residents to avoid dealing with unauthorized sellers.
It warned that engaging in such illegal transactions could lead to financial losses and legal consequences.
