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Says we must achieve proposed N509bn IGR for 2025
Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State, on Thursday – yesterday, January 9 – signed an Executive Order No. 1, 2025, designating some areas in the state as urban areas as well as Land Use Regulation 2025.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mbah exercised his powers under the Land Use Act of 1978.
By the provisions of the Executive Order, entitled “Enugu State Designation of Land as Urban Areas,” the entire Enugu East, Enugu North, and Enugu South Local Government Areas have been designated urban areas.
Likewise, the entire Udi, Nkanu West, Nkanu East, and Nsukka Council Areas have been designated as urban areas.
Others created as urban areas are Ndeabor, Oduma Urban Area, Awgu Town, Ihe, Agbogugu, Mgbowo, Isu-Awa, Mmaku, Ituku, and Owelli-Court urban areas as well as Aguobuowa and Oghe in Ezeagu Council Area.
Ogbede, Ukehe, and Aku in Igbo-Etiti; Enugu Ezike in Igbo Eze North Council Area, 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 Oji-River, Ugwuoba, and Inyi in Oji-River Council Area; Obollo-Afor and Orba in Udenu Council Area ; Umulokpa and Adani in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area as urban areas.
This is even as the Governor has urged members of his governing team and the people of Enugu as a whole to intensify their effort towards achieving the State’s proposed N509bn IGR in the 2025 budget, to enable the administration to achieve most of its development targets for the year.
Signing the order, Mbah said: “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 and quite historic that we have just witnessed. It is in line with what we witnessed a few weeks ago when we formally launched the Enugu State Geographic Information System (ENGIS).
“It is 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 also to ensure ease of doing business.”
He explained that the order would enable the prospective applicants to easily know what their fees are and the timelines that the application would be processed.
“With what we have done here today, there are 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.
“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,” Mbah said.
While commending his team for the good job done, the Governor promised 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.
“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 stressed.
‘We must achieve proposed N509bn IGR for 2025’
Meanwhile, the state government has expressed its commitment to achieving its N509bn IGR goal for 2025.
Speaking during a Holy Mass to start the new work year, held at the ESIRS headquarters yesterday, the Executive Chairman, Enugu State Internally Generated Revenue Service (ESiRS), Mr Emmanuel Nnamani, who lauded the people of the state for their exemplary tax compliance in 2024, revealed that ESIRS has set an ambitious revenue target of ₦509 billion for 2025.
While acknowledging the magnitude of the goal, Nnamani expressed confidence in the agency’s ability to meet it.
“This may seem daunting, but we have demonstrated our capability to exceed expectations.
“Our strategies for achieving this include enhanced collection of land use charges, stamp duties, taxes on rental income and recovery of outstanding local government taxes,” he said.
Nnamani reaffirmed the government’s dedication to rapid and efficient project execution emphasising that the ₦509 billion target was not merely a figure but a catalyst for transformative initiatives that would benefit every resident of Enugu State.
“Our commitment is unwavering. With your continued support, we will bring more development and prosperity to our state,” he promised.
The chairman expressed the importance of continued collaboration between the government and the citizens to achieve even greater milestones in 2025.
“The success we recorded in 2024 was largely due to the cooperation of the Enugu people. Your commitment to fulfilling your tax obligations has enabled us to embark on numerous transformative projects,” he enthused
He highlighted the state’s achievements, including the ongoing construction of 260 smart green schools and Type 2 primary healthcare centres across the state.
Others he listed are the completion of about 90 roads, Enugu International Conference Centre, and deployment of advanced security surveillance systems, among others.
“These projects underscore our shared commitment to elevating Enugu’s status.
“With your ongoing support, the Peter Mbah administration is determined to restore Enugu’s glory as the capital of the eastern region and drive the state to unprecedented heights,” Nnamani added.
He also stressed the importance of tax audits, stating that companies that had defaulted on their tax payments would be scrutinized to ensure compliance.
The ESiRS was committed to ensuring that every eligible entity contributes their fair quota towards the development of Enugu State, Nnamani stressed.
In his message to the ESiRS staff, the officiating priest, Rev. Fr. Clifford Ojukwu, urged them to rededicate themselves to their duties.
“Let us approach our work with renewed vigor and dedication, knowing that our efforts are integral to the progress of Enugu State,” he said.
