ABIA LANDS COMMISSIONER EXPATIATES UPDATES ON LAND REFORMS

…Says four million documents digitized, 5000 applications for C-of-O processed, etc

Abia State Lands Commissioner Mr Chaka Chukeumerije has expatiated  the updates in the  state  land reforms reaffirming  the state government’s commitment to effecting  a transparent, efficient and investor-friendly land administration system through accelerated compensation payments, comprehensive digital reforms and strict enforcement of statutory land obligations.

He said that the ongoing reforms  are designed to attract investment, strengthen public confidence , position the state as a leading destination for economic growth and industrial development.

He also said that the administration of the  state governor  Dr Alex Otti remains committed to completing all compensation obligations, strengthening land administration systems and delivering efficient services that will support the state’s long-term development objectives.

The Commissioner who spoke during a live radio programme,  reported  the progress made in the areas of compensation for major development projects, digitization of land records, issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), and compliance with ground rent and building lease requirements.

He announced that compensations were paid  to landowners of Lands acquired for the ongoing building  of the Abia International Airport project at Nsulu, that though these  have  substantially done,  compensation for lands acquired within the airport runway has been completed, while payment for the  lands acquired  outside the  airport runway area is given  top priority by the state government

Similarly, that payments had been substantially made for lands acquired for the building of the  Abia Industrial Innovation Park (AIIP)  in Ukwa West Council while compensation for the proposed Medical City project  at Owerrinta in Isiala Ngwa South Council, will be done, and assured  that all the outstanding issues were being addressed by  government.

The Lands Commissioner who said that his Ministry  embarked on what he described as an unprecedented modernization programme aimed at transforming land administration in the state, announced that over four million land documents were   digitized as part of the government’s broader agenda to eliminate bottlenecks, enhance transparency and improve the ease of doing business.

He explained that as part of the reforms in the lands sector, the state  government has been upgrading its Geographic Information System (GIS), conducted high-resolution aerial mapping across the state and introduced automated workflows to facilitate seamless land transactions.

He reiterated the  resolve of the state governor Dr Alex Otti  that applicants  for  land Certificate of Occupancy ( C-of-O ) who complete their  documentation, should be issued  their Certificates within thirty days, after filling Valid applications, reaffirming  Otti administration’s commitment to good governance and sustainable development.

According to the Commissioner,  1,068 Certificates of Occupancy were  signed in 2026 alone, while about  5,000 have so far been processed since the inception of the governor Otti administration.

He reminded the property owners in the state  of their  statutory obligation to paying their  Ground Rent and Renewing  of their  Building Leases, stressing that these are Legal requirements under the Land Use Act/Law.

Commissioner Chaka  who urged the concerned citizens to timely authenticate their Survey Plans through the Office of the  state Surveyor-General and obtain valid Certificates of Occupancy, stated that doing so is a sure way to safeguard their investments, facilitate access to credit facilities and prevent ownership disputes.

He  asserted ” the ongoing reforms in land administration are designed to attract investment, strengthen public confidence and position Abia State as a leading destination for economic growth and industrial development”.

According to the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Okezie Uwakwe, the Ministry has commenced the issuance of demand notices through bulk SMS messages, telephone calls and other communication channels to encourage their compliance to its their statutory obligations