By News Desk

The Executive Secretary of the Borno State Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), Engr. Adam Bababe, has outlined new measures aimed at easing congestion in Maiduguri and addressing the rising cost of house rent.

Speaking at a press conference in Maiduguri, Bababe said the city’s population had expanded significantly since Borno State was created in 1976, resulting in decades of pressure on housing and infrastructure.

“We have a densely populated city, and this has contributed to the high cost of rent,” he said.He explained that the introduction of a ring road was part of a broader strategy to reduce pressure on the city centre. To ease the hardship caused by these exorbitant prices, we initiated the ring road project,” he said.

Bababe added that the state’s new industrial hub was already attracting interest, noting that 19 companies had registered to operate within the facility. He said Borno’s proximity to Chad, Cameroon and Niger placed it in a strategic position to expand its economic base.

“We want to begin a new phase of industrialisation to grow the state’s economy. With relative peace returning after the Boko Haram insurgency, Borno is ready for investors,” he added.

He urged both local and foreign investors to explore emerging opportunities, insisting that the state now offers a secure and stable environment. “Borno is safe and mature for investment,” he said.

The BOGIS Executive Secretary also warned residents against acquiring government-allocated plots without developing them, describing the practice as a major setback to urban planning.

He encouraged the public to use the agency’s online portal, noting that fresh land allocations had begun to support the planned expansion of Maiduguri and developing satellite communities.