The Enugu State House Committee on Lands and Urban Development recently paid an official visit to the Ministry of Lands, where they met with Barr. Chimaobi Patrick Okorie, the Hon. Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Hon. Okorie welcomed the Committee and commended the support and synergy the Ministry had enjoyed from the Legislature, which had helped in delivering on the vision of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah. The Commissioner extended felicitations to the Hon. Speaker for the robust collaborative effort which crystallized in the passage of foward-looking laws that support land administration including the G.I.S Law and the Land Grabbing Prohibition Law. He therefore requested the support of the House of Assembly in domesticating the Urban and Regional Planning Law in Enugu State.
The Commissioner revealed plans to hold a Land Summit in Enugu early in 2025. The summit aims to bring together resource persons and stakeholders in the state and beyond to discuss land reforms, refocusing, and re-engineering land administration and evolving strategy for unlocking land assets towards sustainable development for Ndi Enugu.
Earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Lands and Urban Development, Hon. Pius Ezugwu, congratulated Hon. Okorie on his recent appointment, describing it as “a square peg in a square hole.” He appreciated the Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah for finding Hon. Okorie worthy to serve in his administration.
Hon. Ezugwu stated that the committee had reviewed laws hindering property acquisition in Enugu State and confirmed that the law of property protection had been signed into law.
In their separate speeches, the committee members reaffirmed their commitment to passing bills that facilitate land administration. They assured Hon. Okorie that land issues would be treated speedily to achieve the desired urban development in the state.
The committee proposed seminars/trainings for staff of the Ministry of Lands to meet the State Government’s standards. They emphasized a new law requiring property owners to register titles with the Ministry of Lands before building structures.
Other members of the committee present at the visit included Hon. Okey Mba (Deputy Chairman), Hon. Ogara, Hon. William Amuka, Hon. Magnus Edeh, Hon. Johnson Ani, and Barr. Charles Ajogwu (Committee Clerk).