The Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority (GOSUPDA) has refuted allegations circulating on social media that it unlawfully revoked a parcel of land belonging to the late Alhaji Lawan Bawasa and reallocated it to one Saleh Ɗan Masanin Tumu.
The Executive Chairman of the authority, Alhaji Bappayo Samanja Mauɗo, made the clarification while addressing journalists in Gombe.
According to him, the land in question, located around the Rainbow Roundabout, had already been compensated for by the Gombe State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation and designated as a Right of Way (ROW).
“Documents made available to the authority clearly show that the land has been duly compensated and now forms part of the Right of Way. As such, no individual has the legal right to claim or develop the land,” he stated.
Alhaji Samanja explained that the controversy arose following reports that Saleh Ɗan Masani commenced construction on the land without the consent of the family of the late Alhaji Lawan Bawasa, who are laying claim to the property and were reportedly unaware that compensation had been paid to their late father.
He disclosed that upon receiving a formal complaint, GOSUPDA officials promptly visited the site and issued a stop-and-report notice, ordering an immediate halt to construction pending investigation. However, the developer allegedly ignored both the first and second stop notices and continued with the project.
“In view of this, the authority has again directed that all construction activities must stop until a thorough investigation is concluded to determine the true status of the land,” he said.
As part of steps to resolve the matter, the GOSUPDA chairman revealed that the authority has withdrawn the temporary approval earlier granted to Saleh Ɗan Masani to operate a car wash business on the disputed land.
Alhaji Samanja also condemned what he described as misleading and malicious reports circulating on social media, accusing certain individuals of attempting to discredit the authority and the Gombe State Government for personal or political reasons.
He assured the public of GOSUPDA’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and due process, noting that justice would be served once investigations are concluded and the land restored to its rightful status in accordance with the law.
The chairman further dismissed claims in the viral video that GOSUPDA sold the land to Ɗan Masani.
“GOSUPDA does not have constitutional powers to allocate or sell land. Our mandate is strictly to regulate and control development, issue approvals, and grant permits for residential, commercial, and business purposes where applicable,” he emphasized.