In a bold move to curb land grabbing and attract greater investment, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has flagged off a high-tech 3D aerial mapping project aimed at revolutionizing land administration in the state.
The groundbreaking initiative, launched on Wednesday at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport in Ado-Ekiti, will deploy low-altitude drone technology to capture detailed images of the entire state, creating a geospatial database that promises to transform land governance and planning.
Governor Oyebanji described the project as a “game changer” for Ekiti, stating that it would bring unprecedented transparency to land ownership, eliminate fraudulent land transactions, and strengthen urban planning efforts.
“When this exercise is completed, land issues like multiple sales and grabbing will become history,” the governor said. “An investor will no longer need to wade through bureaucracy to verify land status. Everything will be accessible at the touch of a button.”
He added that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to attract local and foreign investors by providing accurate land records and creating an investor-friendly environment.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Lands, Survey and e-GIS, Professor James Olaleye, said the month-long exercise marks the beginning of a modern digital land administration system in Ekiti. He noted that the use of cutting-edge geospatial technologies would streamline infrastructure planning, secure land tenures, and improve internally generated revenue.
“This is the future of land administration,” Olaleye said. “The days of blind land searches are over. This technology will provide clarity, accuracy, and security for everyone—residents, developers, and investors alike.”
Surveyor Olajugba Oluropo, the project contractor, also praised the government’s forward-thinking approach, assuring that the mapping would be completed efficiently and to global standards. He demonstrated the mapping equipment and aircraft features to the governor and other officials at the event.
Shortly after the ceremony, the aircraft took off to commence the data collection phase of the project.
With this initiative, Ekiti joins a growing list of Nigerian states leveraging technology to combat land-related fraud and lay the groundwork for sustainable economic development.
