Era of Land Grabbing, Fraudulent Land Deals Over In Enugu — Surveyor General, NIS

The Enugu State Government says the newly introduced Digital Survey Management System will end land grabbing, fraudulent transactions, and multiple allocations in the state.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop in Enugu, the State Surveyor General, Surv. Chime Justus, said the digital system, part of Governor Peter Mbah’s land reform agenda, would promote transparency, ensure data integrity, and restore investor confidence in land administration.

He described the initiative as a landmark reform that “places the surveying profession at the centre of land governance,” adding that it will eliminate duplication of surveys and disputes over ownership.

“This system stores all survey data and professional signatures in a tamper-proof database. Once a survey is recorded, it cannot be altered without accountability,” Chime said. “It protects professional integrity, ensures traceability, and speeds up approvals.”

He urged property owners to register their lands with the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, noting that digital documentation is now the only reliable safeguard against fraud and encroachment.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Enugu State chapter, Surv. Emmanuel Nnamani, described the reform as “a game changer,” saying it would make every land and survey record traceable to a legitimate owner.

“Cases of overlapping surveys and multiple allocations will disappear. The digital platform enhances our relevance as professionals and makes land verification faster and more accurate,” he said.

He also commended the state government’s investment in modern survey equipment and the establishment of Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) across the state, which, he noted, would improve data accuracy.

On his part, the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Barr. Chimaobi Okorie, said the new system aligns with Governor Mbah’s vision to make Enugu a top investment destination by ensuring certainty and predictability in land transactions.

“Past distortions in survey descriptions caused conflicts and overlaps,” Okorie said. “The governor directed the deployment of a digital survey system that allows users to access accurate land coordinates directly from their devices.”

He added that the reform was the product of collaboration between the Ministry of Lands, the Office of the Surveyor General, and the NIS, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustained stakeholder engagement.

Participants at the workshop hailed the initiative as a major step in restoring confidence in Enugu’s land administration and strengthening property rights across the state.