Global Surveyors Body Lauds Governor Oyebanji for Launching Ekiti’s Geospatial Revolution in Land Administration

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has been distinguished on the international stage, receiving effusive praise from the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) for his visionary approach to reforming land administration in the state.

The commendation was delivered by the Chairman of the FIG African Zonal Network, Ambassador Mohammed Kabir, who is leading a five-day technical mission to Ekiti on the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) Catalytic Intervention Programme. Speaking in Ado Ekiti, Ambassador Kabir hailed Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to a “Geospatial Revolution,” which he noted is essential for enhancing development, security, and investment attractiveness.

The international body specifically recognized the administration’s pioneering initiatives, which include:

1. Statewide Surveying and Mapping: Establishing a comprehensive system for geospatial data acquisition.
2. Geographical Information Survey (GIS): The extensive deployment of GIS technology.
3. Ekiti State Land Information Management Systems (EKLIMS): Developing a robust digital platform for land records.

Ambassador Kabir emphasized that such efforts have caught the attention of the international community, highlighting that with only about three per cent of land in Nigeria officially registered, the state’s proactive steps are a model for effective land governance in Africa.

The Governor’s Technical Adviser on e-GIS and Land Management, Akintobi Olusanmi, noted that critical infrastructure, including Continuous Operating Reference Stations, has been installed, signaling that the project to end the state’s historical land documentation deficit is progressing rapidly.

The ultimate goal of the Oyebanji administration’s reform is to foster a transparent and secure land environment where investors can operate with confidence, and where a local farmer can easily obtain a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to access bank loans and agricultural inputs, thereby directly boosting productivity and livelihood for the citizens.