Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has slashed land charges introduced in 2023 by 60 per cent following widespread public outcry, particularly from residents of Enugu metropolis.
The Mbah administration also announced sweeping reforms in the land sector, including the immediate abolition of illegal levies and the streamlining of property-related charges, as part of its broader economic transformation agenda.
The governor disclosed this at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting on land sector development held on Thursday in Enugu.
Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, Mbah said ground rent, land use charge, and other property-related fees have now been unified and reduced by over 60 per cent.
Under the new policy, property owners will be required to pay only a single Unified Land Use Charge annually through the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), regardless of whether their properties are located within or outside estates.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to building a transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly land administration system anchored on legality, digitisation, and accountability.
It described land as the legal foundation for housing, infrastructure, agriculture, commerce, and investment, noting that the administration has pursued deliberate reforms since inception 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,” Onyia said, adding that effective land governance must be driven by sustained 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 government authorities.
Professor Onyia said Governor Mbah has declared such fees illegal and ordered their outright abolition following widespread complaints from residents.
“A task force has been constituted to enforce compliance, while members of the public who are compelled to pay illegal charges are encouraged to submit evidence to Whistleblowing@enugustate.gov.ng for prompt intervention,” he said.
The SSG further disclosed that the reforms were guided by the recommendations of a multi-stakeholder Committee on Land-Related Revenue and Administration set up to address complaints of multiple taxation and revenue abuses in the state.
