Relief came to residents of Enugu State who have been burdened by multiple taxation as the state government on Thursday announced major reforms in the land sector, including the immediate removal of illegal levies and the harmonisation of land-related charges.
The move forms part of Governor Peter Mbah’s wider economic reform agenda in the state.
There have been repeated complaints over the level of taxation in the state, which had driven up the cost of services, including housing, land and accommodation.
However, in response, the government reviewed taxes on ground rent, land use charge, and all property-related charges, introducing a unified system with a reduction of over 60 per cent.
Property owners are now 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’ townhall meeting on land sector development, which was held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, on Thursday.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, the Governor said his administration remains 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.
“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 total abolition following widespread complaints by residents.
A task force has been set up 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 action.
The SSG further disclosed that the reforms were guided 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, Barr. Chimaobi Okorie, said Governor Mbah has introduced key 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 digitalisation 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 visit designated government offices for smooth processing. He further noted that the Property Protection Law signed by Governor Mbah guarantees the security of legitimate property ownership and protects investors’ assets.
