The governor of Taraba State has ordered an immediate halt to the illegal sale or possession of government land allocated to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), calling for a full investigation into the matter.

The directive, issued on Friday through the Taraba Geographic Information Service (TAGIS), cautions all MDAs against converting land designated for official use into private ownership.

In a statement signed by the Director-General of TAGIS, Dr Joshua Maaku Mark, the governor emphasised that lands allocated to government institutions are strictly for institutional purposes and must not be sold, transferred or otherwise alienated by civil servants, public officials, or their associates.

According to the statement, all MDAs are to immediately desist from any transaction involving the sale, lease, transfer or disposal of government land under their custody. Any ongoing or pending transactions must be suspended without delay and reported to the appropriate authorities.

The governor further directed ministries and agencies to conduct internal investigations into suspected cases where government-owned land may have been unlawfully sold, leased, conveyed or transferred to private individuals. MDAs are required to compile a comprehensive list of staff members and third parties implicated in such dealings for necessary administrative and legal action.

Additionally, all ministries have been instructed to provide TAGIS with accurate and up-to-date records of government land in their possession to ensure proper documentation and integration into the agency’s database.

The Governor’s Office reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public property and promoting transparency and accountability in land administration across the state.

Dr Mark assured ministries and agencies of the office’s highest regard while emphasising the need for strict compliance with the directive.

Taraba governor orders halt to illegal sale of government land