Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu State House of Assembly has begun the move to stop land racketeering in the state.
In this regard, a bill seeking to ensure that all lands in Enugu State are computerised has scaled second reading in the Assembly.
Leading debate on the bill tagged: “Enugu State Geographic Information Service (GIS)” on Thursday in Enugu, the Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Iloabuchi Aniagu (PDP), said the bill, when enacted, would ensure that all lands in the state are computerised to avoid issuance of multiple Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) on one land.
Aniagu pointed out that many lands in the state have more than five C of Os because of the conspiracy of the Ministry of Land, adding that there are over 5000 land cases in the court.
The minority leader expressed hope that the computerisation of lands would reduce number of court cases by 80 percent.
According to him, the legislation would also help in attracting investors, as it would eliminate encumbrances encountered by the investors in acquiring land.
Another lawmaker, Mr. Solomon Onah (PDP Udenu State Constituency), described the bill as timely noting that enacting it would checkmate land forgery and other unwholesome activities going on in the Ministry.
Onah, a one-time Commissioner for Land in Enugu, said he pushed for the bill when he was a commissioner but didn’t succeed, stressing that GIS would block leakage of revenue and stop missing C of O.
Mr. Osita Okoh representing Enugu East Urban constituency said the bill would resolve the problem of land litigations in the different communities, including his constituency.
According to Okoh, the enactment of the GIS would remedy a lot of things and also protect the poor, who struggle to buy land.
Also contributing, Mrs. Obiajulu Princess Ugwu, while aligning with the submissions of other lawmakers, said the computerisation of land would end abnormalities of land management in Amechi community.
She, however, appreciated the state government for recognising 35 per cent affirmative action for women in the board to manage GIS when set up.
In his remark, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Uche Ugwu, asked the House Committees on Land, Judiciary and Education to conduct public hearing on the bill and report back to the House on Tuesday, 30 Jan, 2024.
