As part of efforts to boost internally generated revenue in the face of
dwindling returns from oil, the Delta State government has began reforming
its land administration through harnessing and enforcing the payment of
all levies and charges.
Alreading, the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development is
embarking on the gathering of data on all buildings in the major towns and
urban centres in the state while the data base will be computerised to
remove the human element in the process of assessment for payment of taxes
and levies.
Improving the process of issuing rights of occupancy to remove
bureaucratic hurdles and reduce the time taken is high on the agenda as
Chief Dan Okenyi, Commissioner for Lands and Survey, noted that many
houses in urban centres are yet to be issued with certificates of
occupancy.
Speaking in Sapele while inaugurating a committee to identify and recover
undeveloped plots of land in the town and its axis, Okenyi said a
consultant has been contracted to streamline the entire process of land
administration in the state. He stated that if the process of procuring
certificates of occupancy is simplified and more buildings are covered, it
will have a multiplier effect in revenue generation.
“Apart from the payment of requisite charges for the issuance of
certificates of occupancy, a strong data base would have been built for
the government to now enforce the payment of ground rent and other yearly
charges”, Okenyi said.
He said the target of his Ministry is to become the major revenue earner
for the state after the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue.
Inaugurating the Land Recovery Committee, Sapele Zone, which is headed by
Chief Joe Egigba, Okenyi said the major objectives are to improve revenue
receipts from land charges, curb sharp practices that deny government
requisite income and check land speculation as well as institutte a more
equitable system of allocation of land.
“You are to ensure that all undeveloped plots of land that are over two
years since the owners took full possession are identified and recovered.
I want to clarify that building perimeter fences around a piece of land
does not amount to development”, the commissioner charged the committee.
Other members of the committee are Mr. Precious Obiohoma as secretary,
Chief William Avwigborighe, Dr. Matthew Okotie, Mr. Kenneth Onojaife Mrs.
Pauline Avose, Mr. Eddy Ewesuedo and Mr. Francis Pero. They are to submit
their report within six weeks.