By Jimmy Jackson
Experts in land administration have called for stronger institutions, digital technology and greater professional involvement to improve land management in Cross River State.
The experts, Prof. Francis P. Udoudoh, Mr. Jesam Iwara and ESV. S. U. Bassey, made the call in separate papers presented at the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) Seminar organised by the Cross River State Branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Udoudoh, in his paper titled, “Issues in Land Administration System in Cross River State”, identified bureaucracy, poor land records, unofficial charges, unethical practices and inadequate skilled personnel as major challenges affecting land administration.
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He called for professional training, adequate funding, improved coordination among government agencies and accessible land ownership records to reduce delays, promote transparency and strengthen dispute resolution.
Iwara, in his paper titled “The Role of Geographic Information Systems in Land Administration: The CRGIA Model,” advocated wider adoption of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and digital mapping to improve land records, protect property rights and attract investment.
Using the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA) as a case study, Iwara explained that digital systems could support cadastral mapping, survey plan verification, the processing of Certificates of Occupancy and land-use planning. He also called for clearer delineation of responsibilities among CRGIA, the Director of Lands and the Surveyor-General to prevent conflicting records and administrative duplication.
Mr. Jesam Iwara
He added that GIS could improve property valuation, compensation assessment, property rating and ground rent collection, while stressing the need for updated records, transparent procedures and professional training.
Bassey, in his paper titled “Assessing the Role of an Estate Surveyor and Valuer in Land Administration in Cross River State,” highlighted the profession’s contributions to property valuation, compensation, taxation, land acquisition, estate development and property management.
He identified outdated records, delays in land documentation, informal transactions, inadequate market data and limited digital infrastructure as major challenges. Bassey also raised concerns about political interference in compensation assessments and called for reforms to address shortcomings in the Land Use Act, particularly regarding land values and compensation.
The three experts recommended the digitisation of land records, the development of reliable property databases, the simplification of documentation procedures and stronger collaboration among professionals and government agencies. They maintained that stronger institutions, modern technology and transparent practices would help reduce land disputes, boost public revenue, attract investment and support sustainable development in Cross River State.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of NIESV, Cross River State Branch, ESV. Edet B. Okon, appreciated the participants and highlighted the need for the seminar to address key issues in land administration.
ESV. Edet B. Okon
He said the seminar would examine the review of the Land Use Act, the requirements for obtaining governors’ consent, bureaucratic inefficiencies and delays in obtaining Certificates of Occupancy and registering consent, governance challenges and institutional weaknesses in land administration, the digitisation of land registries, and the adequacy of compensation.
Okon also appreciated the relevant national committee and the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON). He acknowledged the Chairman of the Occasion, High Chief Ntufam Gershom Essien Henshaw, MFR, PPNIVS; past branch chairmen; branch chairmen from sister states; fellows; members; probationers; students; and other participants.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Occasion, Ntufam ESV. Gershom Essien Henshaw, stressed the need for proactive measures to protect the profession and uphold its reputation. He also urged members to strengthen collaboration and work together to advance the profession.
Those present at the event included the President and Chairman of the Council of the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN), ESV. Eno Obongha; the commissioner for Lands, Dr Erasmus Ekpang, Cross River State, Represented by the Director of Lands, the Chairman of NIESV, Akwa Ibom State Branch, ESV. Anieotim Abraham Ekpo; a representative of the Chairman of the National MCPD Committee, Professor Victor Akujuru, Head of Practice – Akujuru Associates, Rivers State, Mr. Charles Efedodoma, Managing Director, Ekondo Microfinance Bank Ltd, staff of the state ministries responsible for lands and GIS, among others.
