In a bid to create a conducive environment for investment to thrive in the state, Enugu State Government has announced sweeping reforms in the land sector, abolishing the activities of “Ogbonecheagu”, collection of illegal levies and the streamlining of land-related charges.
The government disclosed that ground rent, land use charge, and all property-related charges have now been unified and reduced by over 60 per cent, with property owners required to pay only a single Unified Land Use Charge annually through the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), whether their properties are located within estates or outside them.
Governor Peter Mbah made the announcement at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting on land sector development, held , Thursday, at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Governor Mbah said his administration remained committed to building a transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly land administration system anchored on legality, digitisation, and accountability.
He described land as the legal foundation for housing, infrastructure, agriculture, commerce, and investment, stressing that since inception, the administration has pursued deliberate reforms to modernise land governance, reduce uncertainty, curb abuse, and restore public confidence in the land tenure system.
SSG, Prof Chidiebere Onyia
“These reforms are anchored on transparency, predictability, digitisation of records, and strict adherence to statutory processes for land allocation, registration, and development control,” he said, adding that effective land governance must be driven by continuous engagement with
communities, professionals, investors, traditional institutions, and citizens.
A major highlight of the reforms is the immediate ban on the controversial Ogbonecheagu fees collected by some communities and local governments. Prof. Onyia said Governor Mbah has declared all such fees illegal and directed their outright abolition following widespread complaints by residents.
A task force has been constituted to enforce compliance, while members of the public who are compelled to pay such illegal charges have been urged to submit evidence to Whistleblowing@enugustate.gov.ng for prompt intervention.
The SSG further revealed that the reforms were informed by the recommendations of a multi-stakeholder Committee on Land-Related Revenue and Administration constituted by the Governor to address complaints of multiple taxation and revenue abuse in the state.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Chimaobi Okorie, said Governor Mbah has introduced critical policy directions and legal instruments, including an executive order declaring nine of the state’s seventeen local government areas as urban areas to enable planning and structured infrastructural development.
He also said that the Mbah Administration enacted the Enugu State Geographic Information System (ENGIS) law to serve as a one-stop platform for land transactions and to drive the full digitisation and digitalization of land processes and systems. According to him, land records are now fully harmonised, eliminating cases of missing files, while every plot of land in the state can be digitally tracked.
The Commissioner added that applicants seeking Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) can now apply online or walk into designated government offices for seamless processing. He further noted that the Property Protection Law signed by Governor Mbah guarantees the security of legitimate property ownership and protects investors’ assets.
MD, ENGIS, Chiwetalu Nwatu
In his presentation, the Managing Director of ENGIS, Chiwetalu Nwatu, announced that all buildings located in housing estates owned by the Ministry of Housing and the Housing Development Corporation must henceforth obtain building approval directly from the Ministry and the Corporation, irrespective of their locations.
He added that building approval for houses in non-government estates within the Enugu municipal area will now be processed exclusively by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) to eliminate jurisdictional overlaps and administrative delays.
Nwatu announced that Certificates of Occupancy for all buildings in both private and government estates will now be processed directly for individual property owners, thereby strengthening security of titles and improving assets bankability.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ES-IRS), Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, said the newly signed Tax Law was designed to place a greater tax burden on the wealthy while protecting low-income earners.
He urged residents to obtain their Tax Identification Numbers free of charge and comply with tax filing requirements to enable the government to generate accurate data for development planning.
Responding to questions from participants, Prof. Onyia announced the constitution of a committee chaired by the Managing Director of ENGIS, Chiwetalu Nwatu, to address complaints related to layouts and recommend practical solutions within one week for government consideration.
Speaking with newsmen, the Commissioner for Housing,Hon. Gerald Otiji commended Governor Mbah for the bold step taken to reform the land sector. He commended him for reducing the land rate by 60%, saying that the gesture will attract investors to the state.
Commissioner for Housing,Engr. Gerald Otiji
Speaking on the measures put in place in tackling high house rents in the state, the Commissioner said the state government had embarked on construction of housing estates to make housing available and affordable for the resident. He added that when there are availability of houses, house owners will bring down their house rents. Hon. Otiji urged the residents to support the administration of Governor Peter Mbah, who he said, has come to transform the state.
Traditional rulers at the event.
The town hall meeting attracted a broad section of stakeholders, including heads of government agencies, community landholders, estate developers, surveyors, town planners, property agents and lawyers, traditional rulers, town unions, business operators, religious organisations, financial institutions, civil society groups, development partners, and members of the public.
