Gov Mbah Signs Executive Order Creating New Urban Areas, Land Use Regulation Law
The Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has signed an Executive Order No. 1, 2025, creating Enugu East, Enugu North and Enugu South Local Government Areas as designated Urban Areas, in exercise of his powers under the Land Use Act 1978.
Likewise, the entire Udi LGA, Nkanu West LGA, Nkanu East LGA, and Nsukka LGA have been designated as urban areas.
In the same vein, parts of some LGAs have been designated urban areas. Consequently, Ndeabor Urban Area measuring 10km radius and Oduma Urban Area, measuring 20km radius both in Aninri LGA; Agwu Town measuring 25km radius, Ihe, Agbogugu, Mgbowo, Isu-Awa, Mmaku, Ituku, and Owelli-Court; Aguobuowa and Oghe in Ezeagu LGA; Ogbede, Ukehe, and Aku in Igbo-Etiti; Enugu Ezike in Igbo Eze North LGA; Ibagwa Aka in Igbo Eze South LGA; and Ikem and Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area have been so designated
The Executive Order equally designated urban areas Oji-River, Ugwuoba, and Inyi in Oji-River LGA; Obollo-Afor and Orba in Udenu LGA; Umulokpa and Adani in Uzo-Uwani LGA.
“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...
“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."
Meanwhile, Gov Mbah has commended his team for a job well done, noting that there would be adequate public enlightenment on the processes of land transactions under the new Order, Land Use Regulation, and the Enugu Geographic Information Service.
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