Revokes land allocations since 2023
By Ernest Udoh-Robert/Joseph Atainyang
Alleged fraudulent activities rocking the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Lands and Town Planning has prompted the governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to dismiss his Senior Special Assistant on Land Matters, ESV Udeme Daniel Isa.
In a release dated 25 August, 2025, and endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, the letter, entitled, “Notification of Disengagement of Appointment”, noted that the dismissal, which takes immediate effect, was approved by the governor.
The letter directed Udeme Isa to hand over all official documents in his possession to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands and Town Planning.
In another release still endorsed by the SSG, and dated same 25 August 2025, the Commissioner of Lands and Town Planning, Captain Iniobong Ekong, was redeployed to the Ministry of Trade and Investment, and he was replaced by the erstwhile Commissioner of the Trade and Investment Ministry, Dr Ubong Inyang.
The release stated, “In his determination to strengthen the State Executive Council to align with the ARISE Agenda, HE Pastor Umo Eno, has approved the reshuffling of portfolios as follows.”
An impeccable government source disclosed to WatchmanPost that there were sharp practices involving the dismissed SSA and the redeployed Commissioner of Lands and Town Planning, Captain Iniobong Ekong.
The source stated that apart from mismanagements of land issues, there were also many issues of inappropriate allocations of Certificates of Occupancy, resulting in land grabbing.
Another source in the Ministry also told one of our correspondents that there were high levels of corruption within the system bordering on payment of compensations on acquired lands.
He stressed that as long as people keep usurping delegated powers, there would be still issues that would antagonise the progress of government.
Meanwhile, the governor has also directed the revoking of all land allocations including government-acquired lands, made between May 29, 2023 and August 25, 2025.
According to the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Umo Udom, the revocation is aimed at revalidating all land allocations and transitioning to a new digital Akwa-GIS platform.
During this transition, all fresh allocations and land transactions will be suspended for one month, and the Directorate of Lands will be shut down temporarily.
The revalidation exercise, set to last for two months, will be conducted by the GIS Office in the Ministry of Lands and Town Planning. Any land allocation or interest not revalidated within this period will be declared invalid, Udom said.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the state’s development.
