The days of land grabbers in Rivers State may be numbered. This is because the much-desired digitisation process of lands and building approvals has become a reality in the state at least the eight local council areas that form the Greater Port Harcourt City zone under the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA).
The Digitisation scheme is backed by ground penetration radar (GPR) with Geographic Information System (GIS). It allows the creation of a huge platform where all transactions concerning land and building approvals are transacted.
This was part of the calls by investors and land developers at the Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit in May 2024 intensified later at the submission of recommendations to the state government. Now, all experts say the unveiling of the scheme at the GPHCDA on Tuesday, August 21, 2024, marked a turning point in the war against land grabbing and land frauds.
In his remarks at the unveiling, the Acting Administrator of the GPHCDA, Tonte Davies (PhD), an architect, said the digital system is to enhance service delivery in the state. “This is to unveil the automation system we have built.”
He said the system is user-friendly and it supports transparency and accountability. It provides authentication system for those transacting in land business. No more falsification, fraud or land grabbing.
Davies said the new city is still at its phase 1A but hinted that a new Port City is to be flagged off in Eleme soon.
He said this digitization project (GPHCDA) has received big support from Gov Sim Fubara who he said approved the automation scheme without batting an eyelid.
“People have suffered enough in trying to transact with the Authority. Even family members have been duping their relations especially those abroad. One man had to fly in from the US to transact land building approval papers. By this feat today, he wouldn’t need to fly in. You can interact with the platform from anywhere in the world.
“We get express approvals from the governor for our activities. This was the first place he visited when he became governor. This project was on ‘stop mode’ for years. Now, it is off again to action.”
He said land-grabbing and fraud would end because every transaction must be on GPRS and the GIS.
Read also: Land grabbers file 52 lawsuits against Rivers State government
Gov unveils system:
Unveiling the system, Governor Fubara said the digitization system is to boost Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in Rivers State and to return the state on the part of economic competitiveness.
The governor, who was represented at the event on by the Commissioner for Housing, Basoene J. Benibo, an engineer who was part of the team that laid the foundation of the new city, promised to give full support to the full realisation of the digitisation scheme.
As it is now, every new land and building approval request would be processed online, while old files would continue to be uploaded to move the entire operations online.
Speaking, the Governor’s representative mentioned many advantages in digitalising operations of any organisation.
Recounting the benefits of the digital system, the governor’s representative said it would create new ways of making decisions over land and eliminate manual processes and paper work. He talked of improved efficiency and reduction of cost of transactions and operations.
“It may lead to reduction in size of personnel but will speed up operations at reduced cost.”
He said Rivers State wants to join the global family to move at same pace. “Every support needed will receive the positive attention of His Excellency because he is going to support this agency to actualise the dream of helping in the ease of doing business.”
There were hints that the governor would be supportive in terms of funds, should the need arise.
Experts explain:
The IT experts that built the system led by Ibifuro Asawo of CINFORES said this is continuation of the e-governance scheme of the Rivers State government which has touched the tax system (Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, RIRS), public service, Urban Development, Ministry of Education, RISAA, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), the Judiciary, and now the GPHCDA.
“It has a process which starts with creating a file in the platform which would capture every single transaction you make any time on. You can track your file. You can make payment online. The stages of your file are seen by you.
“Verification is now online. Land agents will be known and approved by the authority. Training on how to use the platform will be for everybody including estate developers.
In explaining the process deeper, an officer in CINFORES said asked businesses to endeavour to get their Tax Identification Number (TIN) because it is what they would use to enter the portal. He said there is virtual support system to fall back on.
“In this new approach, there can be no under or over valuation of your property for purpose of payments.
“The Administrator of the Authority has screen monitor every transaction daily, weekly, monthly to yearly basis in terms of revenue.
“Complaints are allowed also on the platform. There is time allowed being two weeks to get certain levels of responses. This will be the first test of the system.”
Stakeholders in the built environment showed excitement and caution. The team from Gold Rock Multipurpose Cooperative Limited said this development was in compliance with the Federal Government directive on documentation. “The GPHCDA has moved on. If this works, this place will be on the next level.”
The team from TAF Africa Global said their bosses were very excited. “This is what we look for in seeking ease of doing business. Over time, Port Harcourt will be a place of pride in Africa. Let the efficiency be in the positive.”
The group from APPI led by an architect simply named Fiberesima said Digitisation has its downturn but that it however makes business better by making physical contact less.
“Before now, you cannot stay in Abuja and approve drawings in Port Harcourt. This is what you get when a professional is in the saddle.
“Please spread this digitization scheme to the Ministry of Urban Development as we hear that the Ministry of Housing is to follow suit.
“Building collapse: Let’s begin to hold people accountable. Letters or guarantees from engineers and that of architects who designed and built buildings must accompany building drawings seeking approval.”
Read also: FECA students and staff protest land grabbing threatening Institution’s future
Mayor of Housing reacts:
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has reacted to the digitisation scheme and expressed profound excitement and commendation on the flag-off.
He has also welcomed the New Port City initiative which would develop a housing scheme over 1000 ha at the Elementary axis where the Alesa Highland Sustainable Smart City is proposed.
China said in a statement that the mere fact that every single transaction in the eight local council areas covered by the Greater PH City would be online and without any form of human interaction is evidence that Rivers State is now finally open and ready for business, in fact ready for e-business.
The Mayor of Housing noted that this great stride coming after the Economic Summit, and after the submission of the Recommendations of the Summit also shows that Governor Fubara does what he says. “This will surely boost the confidence of the organised private sector and both local and international investors.”
The Mayor of Housing who is also the CEO of the Housing and Construction Mayor Limited, developers of the upcoming Alesa Highlands Sustainable Smart City, rejoices with fellow investors and estate developers over this development, saying this is the hallmark of modern states. He also called it a big pillar in the pursuit of ‘Ease of Doing Business’.
China recalled his strong call on June 8, 2024, at a special live radio interview (Super FM) on the need to upgrade all land businesses to digital level.
He has therefore called for the Digitization Scheme to move from the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority to the entire land and housing agencies in Rivers State to make land grabbing and land fraud a thing of the past, and to make acquisition of land certificates and building permits seamless and fast.
He commended the wonderful officials at the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority who worked tirelessly to birth this process and urged them to work even harder to ensure that the joy of the business community would not be cut short.
China also reacted to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the Rivers State Government and a developer to develop the New Port City in Eleme axis and the eventual groundbreaking the next day.
He said the aggressive pursuit of Housing by the Fubara administration will push Rivers State High in the housing sector and boost investment.
He also saw a positive connection between the two Housing projects in same zone saying the New Port City would cater for the low-end market while the Alesa Highlands Sustainable Smart City would cater for the high end.
He appealed to the state govt to continue to reduce obstacles to businesses by boosting Ease of Doing Business in the state.
Conclusion:
The Administrator, Davies Tonte, said automation is not perfect anywhere, saying some persons ensured that the right things are never done.
He said letter of identification from engineers have always been part of the processing requirements.
“We will work with professional bodies especially architects to approve buildings.
“The government has approved a New Port City. It must be recollected that Lagos and Port Harcourt were created same year in 1967. A young breed (Alfred Diete-Spiff administered Rivers State with vigour and the state did well and measured well. Now, a young man (Fubara) is again on the saddle. There is hope for another surge.
“Port Harcourt had big dreams with the biggest secretariat because of a young governor. Now, a young governor is on seat again.”
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