The Enugu State Government has approved a 90-day amnesty period for owners of buildings constructed without official approval, giving them an opportunity to regularise their properties without facing immediate sanctions.
The initiative was announced in a statement issued on Friday in Enugu by the Managing Director of the Enugu State Geographic Information System, Chiwetalu Nwatu.
According to the statement, the amnesty, to be implemented in collaboration with relevant planning authorities, is part of the state’s broader effort to promote orderly urban development and enforce compliance with physical planning regulations.
Property owners without approved building plans are required to submit as-built drawings through ENGIS for assessment and approval.
Those who do not have existing drawings have been advised to engage certified architects to prepare accurate as-built plans that reflect the current state of their structures and submit them within the 90-day window.
The government said the measure is aimed at sanitising the built environment, strengthening regulatory oversight, and aligning developments with the administration’s urban planning objectives.
In addition, ENGIS announced stricter enforcement measures going forward. It stressed that no building plan approval would be granted without a registered land title.
Acceptable documents include a Certificate of Occupancy or a duly registered Deed of Assignment.
The agency further warned that construction must not commence without both a valid land title and an approved building plan issued by the appropriate authority, including ENGIS, the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, or designated town planning offices.
ENGIS also urged individuals and corporate entities holding land through Power of Attorney arrangements to regularise their documentation by registering proper title instruments to secure full legal recognition and eligibility for approvals.
Describing the policy as corrective rather than punitive, Nwatu said the amnesty offers property owners a chance to comply without penalties while supporting the state’s drive for a more structured and secure urban landscape.
He added that the reform forms part of ongoing land administration changes designed to ensure that land ownership documentation and building approvals are processed together, safeguarding legitimate property rights and promoting sustainable growth across Enugu State.
The amnesty took effect on February 27, 2026, and will run for 90 days.
