The Enugu State Internal Revenue Service has announced the enforcement of land use charges on 800,000 houses across the state, including ancestral homes in various communities.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, Chairman Mr. Ekene Nnamani revealed that the enforcement would begin on June 1, 2024.
This initiative aims to meet the N20 billion revenue target from land use charges for the year 2024, positioning land and property taxes as key sources of the state’s internally generated revenue.
Nnamani explained that this drive aligns with Governor Peter Mbah’s agenda of disruptive innovation to transform the state. As part of this effort, the government has automated the Land Use Act charges through the Geographic Information System (GIS), allowing the identification of 800,000 properties.
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“Enugu State Government has automated land use charges in the state. Through the GIS, we have identified 800,000 properties. Every property owner in both the metropolis and villages is required to pay land use charges to enable the government to carry out its developmental plans. These fees depend on the value of the land and its location, ranging from N15,000 to N300,000,” Nnamani stated.
He emphasized that even owners of ancestral homes are required to pay these charges, noting that those in rural areas benefit from government services like schools and healthcare. The charges are categorized and applied per plot of land, with properties spanning multiple plots being charged accordingly.
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“The Land Use law of 2016 mandates that every property owner in the state must pay these charges, which are collected by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service,” he added.
Nnamani urged residents to comply with the new regulations to avoid sanctions and highlighted that no government can achieve its transformative goals without citizen cooperation, particularly in tax obligations.