“I Have No PA, No Chief of Staff, No Aide Whatsoever, No Relative—Do Not Transact With Anybody on My Behalf” — Chief Enyinna Onuegbu Reads Riot Act To Staff
— Declares Commitment to Government Whitepaper
— Digitalization Of land administration and records has come to stay
By: Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, February 04, 2025.
The newly appointed Commissioner for Lands, Survey, and Physical Planing in Imo State, Chief (Barr.) Enyinna Onuegbu (Ebekuo), officially resumed duty on Tuesday following his inauguration by the Governor of Imo State.
Upon assuming office, Chief Onuegbu held a meeting with the ministry’s management and staff, formally announcing his resumption as the substantive Commissioner. He recalled his role as the Governor’s representative in the ministry since May 2024 before his reappointment.
During the meeting, he strongly warned against unauthorized transactions involving individuals claiming association with him. He made it unequivocally clear that no one should conduct any business on his behalf without his direct authorization.
“It is most important to me to tell each and every one of you that I have no PA, I have no Chief of Staff, I have no assistant, I have no brother, I have no sister as far as the work of the Ministry of Lands is concerned. Fortunately or unfortunately, my parents are both dead. I don’t have a maternal uncle, maternal cousin, nephew, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law. I don’t have. Let nobody say because you see me stand with Okeke Okafor, and Okeke Okafor tells you something and you did it, I will deny and I will embarrass you because I know I have taken an oath not to embarrass myself here. So, let nobody say, ‘I know this man, and I see him with the Commissioner,’ don’t do anything with anybody on my behalf. I have not authorized anybody as an assistant or delegate to represent me on anything that has to do with the Ministry of Lands. That is the most important thing I want to tell everybody here. Because part of my first movement here, a lot of assumptions were made about my relationship with people, and I don’t want it to continue this time. For emphasis—no assistant, no Chief of Staff, no brother, no sister. So, please, let us make it very, very clear because I don’t want anybody to say, ‘Because you are always with this man, and he told you to do this, and you did it,’ I will conveniently walk out of it.”
Commitment to Digitalization and Government Whitepaper
Chief Onuegbu emphasized the importance of supporting the governor’s vision of digitalizing land administration in Imo State. He urged the staff to actively participate in the digitalization process, ensuring the ministry aligns with modern technological advancements.
“Let us join the governor in the vision of digitalization of land administration in the state,” he stated.
Furthermore, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Whitepaper Gazette, warning staff against approving documents or land transactions that contradict its provisions.
“For those who think that the government has abandoned the Whitepaper Gazette, they should have a rethink. The ministry must be guided strictly by the Whitepaper,” he declared.
Allocation of Already Subscribed Layouts
Addressing concerns regarding land allocations, the Commissioner assured that those who had previously subscribed to layouts would receive their allocations within the current quarter, as approved by the Governor.
Staff Welfare and Ethical Conduct
Chief Onuegbu called for cooperation among staff, urging them to uphold professional standards and ethical conduct in their operations. He promised to prioritize the welfare of the ministry’s workforce, assuring them of an open-door policy where they could freely discuss their concerns.
He further warned that any staff engaging in unprofessional conduct or unethical practices would face legal consequences.
“I want to be remembered as the Commissioner who implemented the best welfare package for workers in this ministry. My doors are open to all staff regarding their welfare. However, I must also stress that everyone must adhere to professional ethics, as anything contrary could lead to severe consequences, including police involvement,” he cautioned.
A Fully Digitalized Land Administration System
In conclusion, Chief Onuegbu assured that land administration and records has come to stay in Imo State, and would become fully digitalized, allowing for seamless transactions, including search and registration, from the comfort of one’s home on the mobile phone.
“With the complete digitalization of land administration in the state, everything will be digital—even search and registration—so that anyone can conveniently carry out transactions from their homes and mobile phones,” he announced.
The meeting marked the beginning of Chief Onuegbu’s tenure as Commissioner, setting the tone for transparency, professionalism, and efficiency in the administration of land matters in Imo State.
