Edo State Overhauls Land Administration, Appoints Dr. Innocent Bello as EdoGIS Managing Director

Kingsley Ohens reporting

The Edo State Government has announced a sweeping reform of its land administration architecture, appointing Dr. Innocent Ehiaguina Bello as the Managing Director of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), in a move aimed at modernizing land governance and aligning the state with international best practices.

The appointment, approved by Governor , forms part of a broader institutional restructuring designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and data-driven decision-making in land management across the state.

Dr. Bello, a respected geospatial scientist and administrator, currently serves as Assistant Director and Head of the Spatial Data Infrastructure Division at the (NASRDA), Abuja. He also holds the position of National President of the . With an extensive background spanning Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and spatial data infrastructure, his appointment signals a deliberate push toward technologically driven land administration.

Widely published in peer-reviewed journals and academic forums, Dr. Bello’s work has focused on land use systems, cadastral information frameworks, smart city development, and environmental sustainability. His expertise in geospatial intelligence, digital mapping, and land information systems is expected to play a critical role in advancing Edo State’s land reforms.

Central to the reform agenda is the designation of EdoGIS as the primary agency responsible for land administration, following the scrapping of the Ministry of Lands and Housing. According to the government, this structural shift is intended to streamline processes, eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, and strengthen compliance with global standards, including those required by international development partners such as the World Bank.

The government noted that the reforms would improve the state’s capacity to attract international funding, grants, and technical partnerships by ensuring adherence to globally recognized frameworks in land governance and spatial data management.

As part of the transition, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Barrister Vincent Osas Uwadiae, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. In his new role, he is expected to contribute to the state’s urban development strategy, particularly in areas requiring regulatory oversight and planning expertise.

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, , the administration reaffirmed its commitment to institutional reforms that foster transparency, efficiency, and sustainable development. The government emphasized that the restructuring represents a strategic step toward building a modern, technology-driven land administration system capable of supporting Edo State’s long-term economic and urban growth objectives.