The Enugu State Government has approved a major reform of its land administration system, unifying land use charge and ground rent into a single payment while reducing the combined cost by over 69 per cent, in a move aimed at eliminating illegal levies and improving the state’s investment climate.
The reform also includes a ban on the activities of non-state actors, popularly known as Ogbonecheagu, who have been accused of illegally collecting levies from investors and property developers across the state.
Governor Peter Mbah announced the decisions as part of his administration’s broader economic transformation agenda designed to remove barriers to development, curb revenue abuse, and restore investor confidence in Enugu’s land sector.
Under the new policy, property owners will now pay a Unified Land Use Charge annually through the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), regardless of whether their properties are located within estates or outside them. The harmonised charge replaces multiple payments that previously burdened residents, developers, and businesses.
The announcement was made at a stakeholder town hall meeting on land sector development held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu. The governor was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia.
Onyia said the Mbah administration was committed to building a transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly land administration system anchored on legality, digitisation, and accountability.
“Land is the legal foundation for housing, infrastructure, agriculture, commerce, and investment. Since inception, this administration has pursued deliberate reforms to modernise land governance, reduce uncertainty, curb abuse, and restore public confidence in the land tenure system,” Onyia said.
He explained that the reforms were guided by transparency, predictability, digitisation of records, and strict adherence to statutory processes for land allocation, registration, and development control. According to him, effective land governance also requires continuous engagement with communities, professionals, investors, traditional institutions, and citizens.
As part of enforcement measures, Onyia disclosed that a task force has been constituted to ensure compliance with the ban on illegal levies. He urged local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and presidents-general of town unions to convene meetings with groups involved in unauthorised levy collection and ensure such practices stop immediately.
Members of the public who are compelled to pay illegal charges were encouraged to submit evidence to Whistleblowing@enugustate.gov.ng for prompt government intervention.
The government’s actions followed the recommendations of a multi-stakeholder Committee on Land-Related Revenue and Administration, set up to address complaints of multiple taxation and revenue abuse in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Chimaobi Okorie, said the governor had introduced critical policy directions and legal instruments to support the reforms. These include an executive order declaring nine of the state’s 17 local government areas as urban centres to enable effective planning and structured infrastructure development.
He added that the administration had enacted the Enugu State Geographic Information System (ENGIS) Law, which now serves as a one-stop platform for land transactions and drives the full digitisation of land processes.
According to Okorie, land records in the state have been fully harmonised, eliminating missing files, while every plot of land can now be digitally tracked. He noted that applicants seeking Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) can apply online or visit government offices for seamless processing.
He further stated that the Property Protection Law signed by Governor Mbah guarantees the security of legitimate property ownership and protects investors’ assets.
The Managing Director of ENGIS, Chiwetalu Nwatu, clarified jurisdictional responsibilities for building approvals. He said buildings located in housing estates owned by the Ministry of Housing and the Housing Development Corporation must obtain approvals directly from the respective institutions, while approvals for houses in non-government estates within Enugu municipal area will be handled exclusively by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA).
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 protect low-income earners while placing a greater tax burden on the wealthy. He urged residents to obtain their Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) free of charge and comply with tax filing requirements to enable accurate development planning.
Responding to questions from stakeholders, Onyia said the town hall meeting was convened to harmonise land matters in the state for the benefit of all. He directed the setting up of a committee, chaired by the ENGIS managing director, to address complaints related to layouts and submit practical recommendations within one week.
The reforms are expected to significantly reduce the cost of property ownership, eliminate illegal land charges, and position Enugu as a more attractive destination for real estate investment and economic growth.
