In a move to enhance land management and promote transparency, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State signed the 2025 Land Use Regulation and Executive Order No. 1, 2025, on Thursday.
These new measures officially designate several areas in the state as urban zones.
The Executive Order, titled “Enugu State Designation of Land as Urban Areas,” covers the entirety of Enugu East, Enugu North, and Enugu South Local Government Areas (LGAs), as well as the entire Udi, Nkanu West, Nkanu East, and Nsukka LGAs.
Additionally, specific towns and regions within other LGAs have been marked as urban areas. Notable designated areas include Ndeabor Urban Area (10 km radius) and Oduma Urban Area (20 km radius) in Aninri LGA, Agwu Town (25 km radius), Ihe, Agbogugu, Mgbowo, Isu-Awa, Mmaku, Ituku, and Owelli-Court, and several towns in Ezeagu LGA, Igbo-Etiti, Igbo Eze North, Igbo Eze South, Isi-Uzo, and other localities.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Governor Mbah explained the significance of the regulation:
“I have just a few minutes ago signed a Land Use Regulation of 2025, and also an Executive Order designating certain locations of the state as urban areas.
“This is a major milestone that we have just witnessed. This is quite historic. This again is in line with what we witnessed a few weeks ago when we formally launched Enugu State Geographic Information System, ENGIS, a system that is designed to fast-track application for land titles, and indeed other administrative functions relating to land.”
“So, what we have here today is going to bring clarity. As we all know, lack of transparency feeds corruption. This is really a major milestone towards our drive, not just to enhance the revenue of Enugu State, but to ensure ease of doing business where prospective applicants can easily know what their fees are and the timelines that the application will be processed.”
“Therefore, with what we have done here today, there is no more hidden charges when you apply for whatever land transaction, whether it is for search, titles or indeed for whatever transactions you want to carry out relating to land in Enugu State.”
“It is also going to end the era of double allocations, land grabbing, and all sorts of confusion that may have existed before now in our land management system. They have now come to an end with the signing of this regulation.
“We have also expanded areas that before now we have designated as rural areas. That means effectively that those living in those locations are now able to come forward and apply for their title document and they will be able to obtain their Certificate of Occupancy for the property and assets they have there. Again, this brings further clarity to our land management system.”
While expressing gratitude to his team for their efforts, Governor Mbah assured the public that there would be thorough public awareness campaigns about the new processes under the Land Use Regulation, Executive Order, and the Enugu Geographic Information Service.
“This regulation clearly spells out the number of days it will require for any application, whether you are conducting your search or indeed applying to obtain your title document.”
“The number, the timelines, your fees are spelt out. So, there is absolutely no confusion. So, I thank you all for all your efforts,” he concluded.
