The Kogi State Government has commenced a full-scale reform of its land management system through an extensive upgrade of the Kogi Geographic Information System (KOGIS), aimed at ending irregular land allocations and improving land governance statewide.
The initiative was revealed by the Director-General of the Kogi State Bureau of Lands, TPL Kehinde Salihu-Otaru, during a visit by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah, alongside the LugardTV team.
Salihu-Otaru explained that although KOGIS was first introduced in 2020 under the previous administration, several issues continued to undermine land administration, including overlapping land allocations, unauthorized encroachments, and delays in issuing Certificates of Occupancy (CofO).
“The lack of accurate land records has been a major setback for decision-making in the state. With this overhaul, we are creating a tamper-proof digital system that ensures fairness, accountability and faster land services for all citizens,” he said.
He noted that the Bureau is working directly with communities affected by irregular allocations to reclaim encroached lands through dialogue. He added that plans are underway to set up “special development zones” supported by digital mapping and organized layouts to boost industrial and infrastructure development.
According to him, the reform reflects Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s commitment to advancing land management, emphasizing that a modernized system is crucial for Kogi’s industrial, infrastructural and socio-economic growth. He said the digitized process will aid major initiatives, such as industrial parks and the newly approved free trade zone.
The DG also revealed that resources have been set aside for staff training to enhance their capacity in using modern land administration technologies, ensuring successful implementation and long-term sustainability of the KOGIS upgrade.
