JMDB CONTROLS CITIES PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTES SAFETY IN BUILDING, HELPS IN PEACE SETTLEMENT, REVENUE GENERATION AND SET TO IMPLEMENT BEEC CODE- TPL KEFAS JOHN YIL'RWANG

The General Manager of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), TPL Kefas John Yilrwang has enumerated the functions and responsibilities of the board as that of controlling the physical development of cities, the promotion of safety in building, helping out in peace settlement in land issues using the development plan of the cities, the generation of internally Generated Revenue for the State Government through park and pay, granting approvals for temporary projects like bill boards,maintenance of parks and gardens and its management in the city, urban governance, approval of building plans and the implementation of the BEEC code in Plateau State.

Yilrwang made this clarification when Chief Amb Nanyah Andrew Daman JP, Jarumin Jat, Group Managing Editor and the Chairman of the Plateau Publishers Association (PPA) led members of the Board Executive Council and PPA members on a courtesy call and media parely to the headquarters of the JMDB in his office on Tuesday, 31st May, 2022.

The indefatigable and intelligent General Manager of the JMDB listed the achievements of the Board under his leadership thus; Development Control which served notices on both cessation and stop work and the demolition on illegal developers from 2019 to date- 975 notices of control had be given out, 850 demolition notices were served between 2019 while actual demolition carried

were 65 between 2019 to date.

The  GM of JMDB also hinted that the Board had addressed several arising and challenging complaints on access blockage, land dispute and encroachment on land within the metropolis and beyond.

On the processing and approving of development plans within the Greater Jos- Bukuru Metropolis from 2019 to date about 217 building plans were approved and 432 building plans were submitted and are being processed TPL Kefas John Yil'rwang confirmed.

The GM of JMDB also listed as their achievements,the designation of names and street names based on the street naming code and index to identify specific locations within the Jos- Bukuru Metropolis. 

He hinted too that the Board has successfully engaged an action strategy for revenue drive and serving demand notices on developments eg illegal structures, sign boards and pending processing fees from the developers.

Other achievements of the TPL Kefas John Yilrwang administration in the JMDB included the re-roofing of blown off roof of block B at the senior staff quarters, Tudun Wada; tiling and upgrading of toilets in the offices; damp control of court yard decking at the office; in the process of computerisation of board's property record, the promotion of deserving staff and the conversion of staff who had gone to school with additional qualification,the welfare of staff is topmost priority and the board has done well in this direction. 

Listing out other achievements of the Yilrwang administration from 2019 to date, the GM said the Board has sponsored about 20 persons from all the departments for professional and or workshops for enhanced productivity. Currently about 10 staff are on in service training in different institutions.

 The GM said the management has achieved these laudable feats due to the cordial working relationship with the various unions of the board.

Speaking on the challenges militating against the smooth function of the Board, TPL Kefas John Yilrwang listed lack of vehicles for effective development control and calls on Government to purchase the needed vehicles for these purposes. Other challenges are lack of manpower especially personnel with ND and JND generally, lack of tools/machinery for carrying out demolition exercise eg Excavator, pail loader, lowbed and ten tire trucks; lack of adequate knowledge for staff on (GIS) Geographical Information System; Overlapping of functions by our sister agencies like Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Works and Jos North LGC who issues permit on illegal tree failing within Jos- Bukuru Metropolis and the poor condition of office and furniture.

On the way forward and prospects of the JMDB, Yilrwang wants the employment of qualified personnel, the provision of one excavator, pail loader, lowbed and two ten tire trucks for demolition and clearance; provision of 9 number Hilux to be assigned to each of the six zones and the Directors for joint site inspection; training of staff of Geographical Information System (GIS); provision of laptops to staff for their work and one drone for site inspection for plan processing and development control.

The GM insisted that there should be regular demolitions and clearance of illegal developments and temporary structures within the Greater Jos-Bukuru Metropolis by carrying out these demolitions, the city will be decongested and developers will be encouraged to get building approvals from the Board and by so doing more revenue can be generated.

Of utmost importance, the GM said, is the passage of the State Urban and Regional Planning bill at the House of Assembly; the adaption and passage of the Greater Jos Master Plan into law and implemented; collaboration with MDAs to effectively carryout urban Governance; implementation of the new street naming and house numbering policy and collaboration with stakeholders - land owners, community leaders, traditional rulers, citizens to adopt physical planning best practices in the state.

Earlier in his remarks, Chief Amb Nanyah Andrew Daman JP, Jarumin Jat, Group Managing Editor of the NewsGate Magazine and the Chairman of Plateau Publishers Association ( PPA) thanked the General Manager of JMDB, TPL Kefas John Yilrwang for the singular opportunity for a courtesy call and media parely to JMDB. 

Daman said the visit is to introduce the newly elected Executive Council and the 25 authentic members of the Plateau Publishers Association (PPA) as the state is rift with fake publishers and journalists.

 The Chairman of PPA pointed out that the 25 members are broken into Eight Publishers of News Magazines, Ten Publishers of Newspapers, Seven Online Bloggers with Three Online Publishers/Bloggers on probation for registration soon due to the receptive disposition of the new Exco.

The Chairman of PPA informed the Board that the PPA is the only registered organisation of Publishers to do business in Plateau State with the Corporate Affairs Commission. 

He requested for partnership, retainership and assistance for training of Publishers in the reporting of the activities of JMDB appropriately. 

Daman listed the needs of the association to include office accommodation, hummer bus and laptops to ease information dissemination by the 25 Publishers.