In a significant step towards reforming land administration in Enugu State, Governor Dr. Peter Mbah on Monday unveiled the Enugu State Geographic Information System (ENGIS), marking a major achievement for the state’s development.

Mbah, who signed the Enugu State Geographic Information System Service Bill into law in March, emphasized that this initiative was part of his administration’s promise to modernize governance, starting with the simplification and sanitization of land management.

Speaking at the inauguration of the ENGIS office and system in Enugu, Mbah said, “This is not just a victory for the government but also for Ndi Enugu, as it brings integrity and transparency to land transactions. Today, we are putting an end to land grabbing, unauthorized construction, double allocations, and revenue diversion.”

The governor further highlighted that the system would help advance the state’s economy, aiming to increase its GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion over the next four to eight years.

He explained that the ENGIS system would allow title applications to be processed quickly—within 48 hours—creating a more efficient, transparent, and business-friendly environment.

Mbah stressed the importance of digital investment to boost ease of doing business in the state.

“With ENGIS, you can apply for titles, conduct land searches, and receive results from the comfort of your home,” he said.

“The system eliminates the opacity in land transactions and is set to attract more investors, contributing to economic growth.”

The governor praised his team for their hard work in digitizing land documents, some of which date back to the colonial era when Enugu administered much of Southern Nigeria, except Lagos.

Barr. Chimaobi Okorie, the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, and Dr. Cyril Ezeama, Coordinator of ENGIS, further explained that the system would enhance revenue generation for the state.

Ezeama noted that the project was designed not only to streamline land registration but also to address revenue leakage and potentially contribute up to N300 billion annually to Enugu’s internally generated revenue (IGR).

“This system will allow land applications and searches to be initiated and completed entirely online, making the process seamless and convenient,” Ezeama added.

Governor Mbah’s digital transformation initiative received widespread support, with key stakeholders, including the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uche Ugwu, Igwe Samuel Asadu (Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council), and leaders of professional associations such as the Nigeria Bar Association, Institute of Surveyors, and Institute of Town Planners, praising the project.

They pledged their support for the governor’s development agenda, which they believe will help position Enugu State as a top destination for business and investment.

The presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been postponed to Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

This change was confirmed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, following the Federal Executive Council meeting, which was chaired by President Tinubu. Idris explained that ongoing discussions had led to the rescheduling of the budget presentation.

Previously, Senate President Godswill Akpabio had announced during last week’s plenary that the budget would be presented on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

He stated, “His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has indicated his intention to bring the 2025 budget proposals and estimates to a joint sitting of the National Assembly on the 17th of December, 2024, at 11:00am prompt, at the House of Representatives.”

However, sources within the National Assembly later informed newsmen that the presentation had been postponed, though no specific reason for the delay was provided.

The usual preparations for the President’s arrival appeared minimal, with only a few additional security vehicles observed around the National Assembly.

A lawmaker, who had initially confirmed the Tuesday presentation, later shared an update indicating the new date: “President Bola Tinubu’s proposed ₦47.9 trillion 2025 budget presentation has been postponed from Tuesday, December 17, 2024, to Wednesday, December 18, 2024.”

A clerk from one of the National Assembly committees also verified that a circular had been issued regarding the change in schedule.

Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Northwest, has called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to rally together other past Nigerian leaders in forming a united political front to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 general elections.

Lukman’s plea follows Obasanjo’s recent comments in a December 8 newspaper interview, where he was quoted saying, “A leader made by Satan is bound to fail, while God’s chosen one will thrive.”

Lukman argues that to ensure Nigeria produces godly leaders free from what he terms “satanic genotypes,” Obasanjo and other past leaders, including Generals Yakubu Gowon, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former President Goodluck Jonathan, have a moral responsibility to unite the opposition and form a new, functional political party.

In his open letter to Obasanjo, Lukman emphasized the urgency of such efforts, stating, “It is not enough to lament the presence of Satanic leadership in the country. Unless past leaders like you assert their moral authority, we risk perpetuating the current cycle of failed leadership under President Tinubu.”

He further warned that as long as Nigerian politics remains fragmented and reduced to serving personal ambitions, the country would continue to be led by leaders with questionable motives, whether they emerge from new or existing parties.

Lukman reflected on the potential of the APC in 2015, suggesting it was ultimately undermined by internal divisions and impunity.

Lukman pointed out the risks of the opposition’s fragmented efforts, citing resistance from some opposition leaders who are focused on their personal ambitions, hindering the formation of a cohesive and strategic political force.

He also noted the emergence of regional and ethnic divides, along with the involvement of influential figures allegedly financing such divisions, as signs of a growing threat to genuine political reform.

Lukman concluded that any political leader who resists collaboration with others in the opposition is unwittingly aiding the APC’s chances of victory in the upcoming election.

He stressed that those seeking power at all costs, without regard for the country’s future, were contributing to a political system dominated by “Satanic” leaders.

Having distanced himself from the APC following the 2023 elections, Lukman remained firm in his belief that the party’s strategy revolves around maintaining divisions within the opposition.

He urged Obasanjo and other former leaders to act quickly to unite the opposition and foster a viable political alternative for Nigeria in 2027.

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has officially endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office, expressing its full support for his candidacy in the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued on Monday after a meeting held in Abuja on Sunday, the Forum, led by Chairman Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, affirmed that the region would stand by Tinubu in the upcoming election.

The endorsement comes in recognition of the various opportunities and benefits the North-Central has received under Tinubu’s administration since he took office in 2023.

The endorsement contrasts with the stance taken by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), both of which have voiced opposition to Tinubu’s potential reelection.

The ACF recently announced that it would support northern candidates in the 2027 race, while the AYCF expressed regret over supporting Tinubu in 2023, warning that the North might oppose his second term unless there are significant improvements in the country’s socio-economic situation.

Despite this, the North-Central APC Forum emphasized the positive impact of Tinubu’s leadership on the region, particularly in terms of infrastructure development, appointments, and security.

The Forum stated that the North-Central has experienced unprecedented benefits under this administration, making it the most favorable period since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.