The Enugu State Government has announced a major overhaul of its land administration system, slashing land-related charges by over 60 per cent and abolishing all illegal levies, including the widely criticised Ogbonecheagu fees, in a move aimed at boosting transparency, investment, and ease of doing business.

Under the new policy, ground rent, land use charge, and other property-related payments have been harmonised into a single annual Unified Land Use Charge payable through the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ES-IRS).

Property owners will now make one payment yearly, whether their properties are located within estates or outside them.

Governor Peter Mbah announced the reforms on Thursday at a stakeholders’ townhall meeting on land sector development held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.

Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, the Governor said the reforms were part of his administration’s broader economic transformation agenda designed to build a transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly land administration system.

Prof. Onyia described land as the foundation of housing, infrastructure, agriculture, commerce, and investment, stressing that the government had since inception pursued deliberate reforms to modernise land governance, curb abuse, and restore public confidence in the land tenure system.

According to him, the new framework is anchored on transparency, digitisation of records, predictability in charges, and strict adherence to statutory procedures for land allocation, registration, and development control.

A key component of the reforms is the immediate abolition of Ogbonecheagu fees and other unauthorised charges imposed by some communities and local governments.

Prof. Onyia said Governor Mbah had declared such levies illegal following widespread complaints by residents and property owners.

He disclosed that a task force has been set up to enforce compliance, warning that individuals or groups found collecting illegal land-related charges would face sanctions.

Members of the public who are compelled to pay such levies were advised to submit evidence to Whistleblowing@enugustate.gov.ng for prompt government intervention.

The SSG explained that the reforms were guided by recommendations from a multi-stakeholder Committee on Land-Related Revenue and Administration constituted by the Governor to address issues of multiple taxation, extortion, and revenue leakages in the land sector.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Barr. Chimaobi Okorie, said the administration had introduced critical policy and legal instruments to support orderly development.

He cited an executive order declaring nine of the state’s seventeen local government areas as urban areas to enhance planning and structured infrastructure growth.

Okorie also noted that the enactment of the Enugu State Geographic Information System (ENGIS) law has transformed land administration into a one-stop, fully digitised platform, eliminating missing files and enabling digital tracking of every plot of land in the state.

He added that applications for Certificates of Occupancy can now be processed online or through designated government offices, while the Property Protection Law signed by the Governor guarantees the security of legitimate property ownership and investor assets.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of ENGIS, Mr. Chiwetalu Nwatu, announced new guidelines on building approvals, stating that structures within government-owned housing estates must obtain approval directly from the Ministry of Housing or the Housing Development Corporation.

He added that building approvals for properties in private estates within the Enugu municipal area would now be handled exclusively by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority to eliminate overlaps and delays.

Nwatu further disclosed that Certificates of Occupancy for properties in both private and government estates will henceforth be issued directly to individual owners, strengthening title security and improving access to credit.

On his part, the Executive Chairman of ES-IRS, Mr. Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, said the newly enacted Tax Law was structured to place a higher burden on the wealthy while protecting low-income earners.

He urged residents to obtain their Tax Identification Numbers at no cost and comply with tax obligations to support effective development planning.

Responding to stakeholders’ concerns, Prof. Onyia announced the constitution of a committee chaired by the ENGIS Managing Director to address issues relating to land layouts and submit recommendations within one week.

The townhall meeting drew participation from government agencies, community landholders, estate developers, surveyors, town planners, property agents, lawyers, traditional rulers, town unions, investors, civil society organisations, and members of the public.

SP Daniel Ndukwe,

A joint team of security operatives in Enugu State has neutralised a kidnapping suspect and rescued an abducted victim during a coordinated operation in Udenu Local Government Area.

The operation, carried out by operatives of the Enugu State Police Command alongside the Nigerian Army, Forest Guards, Neighbourhood Watch Group and local vigilantes, followed a distress report received in the early hours of Wednesday, January 29, 2026.

The report indicated that a male victim had been abducted by armed men in Ezimo-Uno community.

In a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, upon receiving the report, ordered the immediate deployment of security forces to the area to rescue the victim and apprehend the suspects.

According to the statement, the joint team tracked the kidnappers to the Agu-Shere and Okpakereke forest axis, where they encountered the suspects.

The kidnappers reportedly opened fire on the operatives, who responded with what the police described as “mastery and precision,” leading to the neutralisation of one of the suspects.

Other members of the gang escaped into the forest bordering Benue State, some with gunshot injuries.

The kidnapped victim was rescued unhurt.
Items recovered from the scene include one AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition, one extra magazine, two daggers, military camouflage uniforms, mobile phones, assorted food items, cooking utensils, and a freshly slaughtered chicken.

SP Ndukwe disclosed that a manhunt is currently underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

The Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the commitment of security agencies to sustaining the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes across Enugu State.

He called on residents, especially health and medical service providers, to promptly report anyone seen with gunshot injuries to the police or the nearest security formation.

He also urged members of the public to continue to support security agencies with timely and credible information, assuring them that such cooperation remains critical to maintaining peace and security in the state.

A 95-year-old woman has lost her life after a fire outbreak razed a two-storey residential building at Fabikez Street, Omagba Phase 2, Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The inferno, whose cause is yet to be determined, reportedly started in one of the apartments at about 5:15 pm on Friday and quickly spread to adjoining flats, trapping the elderly woman for several hours before help arrived.

It was gathered that the fire caused extensive damage estimated at several millions of naira, destroying personal belongings and household items before officials of the Anambra State Fire Service brought the situation under control.

Eyewitnesses said the incident triggered panic among tenants and residents of the area, who made desperate efforts to contain the blaze before the arrival of firefighters.

A resident of the compound, identified simply as Uche, described the incident as terrifying.

“There was thick smoke and fire everywhere. People were shouting and running in different directions as the fire spread rapidly,” he said.

“Sadly, an elderly woman who was trapped inside did not survive.”

The landlord of the affected building could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.

Confirming the incident, the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, led by the state fire chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, said a distress call was received at about 5:08 pm, prompting the immediate deployment of firefighters and a fire truck to the scene.

According to Chiketa, firefighters battled the flames for several hours and successfully prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. The operation ended at about 7:45 pm.

“Unfortunately, a 95-year-old woman was trapped during the incident and one casualty was recorded,” he said, adding that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Anambra State Fire Service reiterated its commitment to the protection of lives and property and urged residents to remain fire-conscious, observe safety precautions, and promptly report fire emergencies to enable swift response.

The incident comes barely days after another fire outbreak destroyed dozens of apartments and shops in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state, though no life was lost in that incident.

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has ordered the removal of traditional rulers in the Amasiri clan of Afikpo Local Government Area and directed the immediate withdrawal of their staff of office following a violent attack that left four persons dead in Edda Local Government Area.

The governor also sacked the Commissioner for Tertiary Education from the area, Prof. Amari Omaka, and dissolved the entire political and traditional leadership structures of the Amasiri community.

The decisive actions followed a brutal attack on Okporojo in Oso Edda community, during which four persons were allegedly beheaded, with their heads taken away by assailants reportedly from the Amasiri clan.

Nwifuru announced the measures on Saturday during an on-the-spot assessment visit to Okporojo, where he met with residents, community leaders, security agencies and government officials.

Describing the incident as “most unfortunate,” the governor said such a barbaric act would never be tolerated in Ebonyi State, assuring that the perpetrators would be decisively dealt with.

He urged residents to remain calm and shun retaliation, warning that any reprisal attacks would only escalate the crisis. According to him, the government’s response would be firm but guided by the need to prevent further bloodshed.

The governor disclosed that the conflict had persisted for years despite several reconciliation efforts, including boundary agreements between the affected communities, noting that such agreements were repeatedly violated.

He said his visit was meant to send “a strong signal” that the state government would no longer tolerate lawlessness or disregard for the rule of law.

Turning to the role of the Amasiri community in the crisis, Nwifuru issued a stern warning, cautioning that violence would never produce a meaningful resolution and that the situation was approaching “a point of no return” if provocations continued.

Consequently, the governor announced the immediate dissolution of the Amasiri Town Development Union and its executive members, the withdrawal of the traditional ruler’s certificate, and the removal of all village heads in the Amasiri autonomous community.

He further ordered the sack of all political appointees from the Amasiri community, including management committee members and commissioners serving in his administration.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to restoring lasting peace in Edda Local Government Area, Nwifuru promised that the affected communities would begin to experience tangible improvements through government intervention by next year.

Expressing deep grief over the killings, the governor said: “I am particularly very saddened. I repent of this kind of development. I have never in my whole life expected this kind of development. It is quite unfortunate. But as a careful leader, you speak less when you are very angry, and at this moment I will speak less.

“I want to assure the people of Okporojo autonomous community that the government of Ebonyi State will definitely show the perpetrators what it means to challenge government authority. I promise you, the lives lost will never be in vain by the special grace of God.

“I am seeking the right words at this moment so that I do not escalate the crisis, but I plead with all of you to maintain peace. At the end of the day, those who started this violence will regret it. My visit here today will leave a very bold mark.

“By the end of today, you will see the outcome of this visit. And I promise you, as long as I remain your governor, this kind of rascality will never happen again.”

He also spoke on the role of the Afikpo Local Government leadership, saying: “The Chairman of Afikpo is here. He is known for his doggedness, peace-loving nature and respect for the rule of law. But if his subjects decide to take lives at will, it is a pity.”

Nwifuru further stated: “If you see a quiet person, do not push him to the wall. I have been pushed to the wall.

“This matter did not start today. We have held several meetings, traced boundaries and reached agreements. But it has now reached a critical point.”

“My message to the people of Amasiri is to rethink their actions. Violence will never lead them anywhere. I have also heard that Akpoha community blocked their road because they feared an attack. This shows how far things have gone.”

He concluded by declaring: “On this note, for now, the development union executives and all village leadership structures in Amasiri are hereby dissolved.

“The traditional ruler’s certificate is withdrawn. All government appointees from Amasiri, from management committee members to commissioners, are hereby sacked.”

“All village heads in Amasiri autonomous communities are removed. We will do more, and we will show everyone why we are government.”