Akwa Ibom Government Allocates ₦4bn for Land Compensation

The Akwa Ibom State Government has disclosed that it spent over ₦4 billion within a year to compensate landowners and host communities to resolve land disputes and facilitate major development projects. Ubong John Inyang, the Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, made this announcement during an inter-ministerial briefing in Uyo.

The compensation payments were linked to 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 various judicial quarters. Inyang emphasized that this initiative aims to address longstanding land acquisition issues and ensure affected communities receive appropriate compensation.

Additionally, the government has established a Land Conflict Resolution Desk to promote alternative dispute resolution, which has facilitated the out-of-court settlement or withdrawal of over 100 pending land cases, thereby reducing court congestion. The formal rollout of AKWAGIS was also announced, aiming to transform land administration through digital platforms.