By Shuaibu Usman
Barely two weeks in office, Umar Tanko Tunga, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, has launched an action plan anchored on revamping lands administration for effective urban development.
The three-pronged action plan according to Tunga, would be immediately implemented for efficiency and to curb systemic intricacies.
Nasarawa Newsline reports that the action plan is expected to be delivered in four weeks, adding that the commissioner extensively engaged with heads of various units and departments in the ministry for robust service delivery.
Tunga emphasised the urgency of executing the ministry’s strategy, which prioritizes sectoral urban planning, digital transformation, and public-private partnership (PPP).
He said the first component targets accelerated urban development through sectoral plans for select areas, beginning with the Lafia eastern bypass corridor.
Acknowledging the delays and costs associated with traditional master plans, Tunga said the ministry will come up with a comprehensive action plan for the bypass. This approach, he noted, will ensure orderly development and enhance livability for residents.
According to him, the second initiative focuses on modernising the ministry’s operations through full computerization. This includes digitizing land records, automating approval processes, and establishing a centralized database to improve service delivery through collaboration with NAGIS.
He urged departmental heads to submit innovative ideas within a week to inform the digitization framework, stressing that technology is critical to eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Khalid Adamu appealed to staff to support the commissioner’s vision, disclosing efforts to recover tripled revenue codes hence the need for the staff to work hard.