Bauchi Govt Commended for Tackling Quackery in Built Environment Sector.

By Uzairu Dauda Bunga:

The Bauchi State Government has been commended for its concerted efforts in addressing the menace of quackery within the built environment sector.

The commendation was given by the Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Bauchi State Chapter, ESV Ishaya Dogara Numa, during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for the Ministry of Lands and Surveys at the ministry’s conference hall.

ESV Dogara Numa praised the state government for creating enabling and relevant legislation aimed at curbing unprofessional practices in the sector, describing the move as a laudable achievement that will protect public interest and uphold professional standards in Bauchi State.

He advocated for continuous internal and external training of ministry staff to enable them keep pace with emerging technologies and global best practices, stressing that this would ensure efficiency and sanity in land administration and survey duties.

The NIESV Chairman also called for stronger synergy and collaboration between the association and the ministry, particularly through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), noted that NIESV members possess expertise in valuation, agency, property management, land administration, and advisory services, which could be effectively harnessed to support government policies and programmes for improved service delivery.

In his response, the Commissioner for Lands and Surveys, Town Planner Abdullahi Muhammad, appreciated the visit and assured the delegation of the ministry’s maximum cooperation in promoting sanity and efficiency in land administration across the state.

TPL Abdullahi challenged estate surveyors and valuers to work towards restoring the image of their profession for the development of Bauchi State and Nigeria at large

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He advised professional bodies and unions to take responsibility for training their members rather than relying solely on government resources.

According to the commissioner, no amount of legislation alone can completely eradicate quackery in land matters unless professionals themselves make deliberate efforts to uphold ethical standards.

He therefore advocated a change-begins-with-me approach among staff of the ministry and professionals in the sector to complement existing legislative efforts.

He further decried the practice of acquiring land meant for future development and diverting it to inappropriate uses, calling on stakeholders to support the ministry’s objectives for sustainable development in Bauchi State.

In his remarks, a Board Member of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON), ESV Dr Hamza Usman, lamented the recent recruitment exercise in the Adamawa State Ministry of Lands, where land officer positions were reportedly filled by non-estate surveyors and valuers, a development he said violated the provisions of the board’s law.

Dr Usman, however, applauded the Bauchi State Ministry of Lands and Surveys for having one of the highest numbers of qualified estate surveyors and valuers in Nigeria.

He also disclosed that the National Board of Estate Surveyors and Valuers had commended the Bauchi State Government for approving additional directorates in the ministry, an initiative that had been advocated for over the past 20 years.

The visit underscored the shared commitment of the Bauchi State Government and professional bodies to strengthen land administration, enhance professionalism, and curb quackery in the built environment sector.