Enugu State’s quest for effective land administration has been bolstered with the swearing-in of Barr. Chimaobi Okorie as the new Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development.

Governor Peter Mbah, in a brief address, applauded Barr. Okorie’s rich background in the ICT sector and expressed confidence in his ability to leverage digital innovation to revamp the state’s land management system.

“The move to appoint an IT expert as the Land Reform Commissioner is part of a broader strategy to root out inefficiencies and corruption in Enugu’s land administration”.

In recent years, the state has grappled with issues such as land grabbing, undervaluation, and bureaucratic red tape, leading to a host of challenges for landowners, developers, and investors.

Governor Mbah’s decision to tap into the potential of digital technology is seen by many as a promising step towards streamlining the system and unlocking opportunities for sustainable growth.

His Excellency, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah today at the Government said with his rich background in the ICT sector, the new Commissioner was expected to spearhead the ongoing radical reforms in land administration.

“Our goals are very clear: we are automating our land title processes to facilitate the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy in not more than 72 hours.

“With the enactment of the Enugu State Geographic Information Services (EN-GIS) Law and Enugu State Properties Protection Law, we now have legislation for the digitization and digitalization of the land registry, protecting the citizens from land grabbers, ensuring transparency in all aspects of engagement with government and enabling self-service.

“The processes for obtaining building approvals are also being overhauled to save time and improve efficiency.

“We are de-risking investment in key sectors by providing access to land, providing support infrastructure, and managing engagement with host communities, among others. We are focused on growing our economy exponentially, creating wealth, and addressing crime and insecurity”, he stated.

Responding, the Commissioner expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve, promising not to disappoint the governor and the good people of the state.