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Akwa Ibom Government says it has paid over ₦4bn in compensation to landowners and host communities in one year.
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Payments covered land acquired for Ibom Medical City, AKWAGIS headquarters, IBC complex, Command and Control Centre and judicial quarters.
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Land Conflict Resolution Desk has facilitated the settlement or withdrawal of over 100 pending land cases.
October 8, (THEWILL) – The Akwa Ibom State Government has disclosed that it spent more than ₦4 billion in one year to compensate landowners and host communities, as part of efforts to resolve land disputes and remove obstacles to the execution of major development projects across the state.
The Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Ubong John Inyang, disclosed this on Wednesday, during the ongoing inter-ministerial briefing in Uyo.
Inyang said the compensation payments were made in connection with land acquired for strategic projects, including the Ibom Medical City, the new headquarters of the Akwa Ibom Geographic Information System (AKWAGIS), the Ibom Broadcasting Corporation complex, the State Command and Control Centre and several judicial quarters.
He said the compensation was part of the state government’s effort to address longstanding land acquisition issues while ensuring that communities and property owners affected by public projects receive appropriate consideration.
The commissioner said the government had also established a Land Conflict Resolution Desk to promote alternative dispute resolution and reduce prolonged litigation over land matters.
According to him, the initiative has so far facilitated the out-of-court settlement or withdrawal of more than 100 pending land cases, thereby helping to decongest the courts and resolve disputes between parties.
Inyang further announced the formal rollout of AKWAGIS following recent executive assent, saying the initiative would transform land administration in the state through digital platforms.
He said processes, including title verification, Certificate of Occupancy applications and revenue collection, would progressively be handled through the digitised land administration system.
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The commissioner added that the government was reviewing urban planning frameworks along major growth corridors, including Uyo, Eket, Oron and Ikot Ekpene, as part of measures to control unapproved developments and strengthen enforcement of building regulations.
The development is coming as the state government intensifies investment in infrastructure and public facilities under the administration of Governor Umo Eno, with land availability and dispute resolution increasingly central to the delivery of major projects.
Speaking on the development, the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, said the government’s approach was to ensure that development was pursued without unnecessarily leaving affected property owners and communities behind.
Umanah said the resolution of land-related disputes was important to sustaining the pace of infrastructure development, adding that responsible development required a balance between public interest, investment and the legitimate interests of property owners.
He said the administration would continue to prioritise mechanisms that promote transparency, dialogue and timely resolution of disputes in order to create a more predictable environment for development across the state.
According to him, the land administration reforms are expected to further improve transparency, reduce delays in property transactions and strengthen the state’s capacity to manage its rapidly expanding urban centres.
