Edogis

01/09/2026

01/09/2026

A new month a fresh start,
New opportunity to build,
Grow and deliver greater value.

29/08/2026

𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑾𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓, 𝑬𝒅𝒐𝑮𝑰𝑺, 𝒕𝒐 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝑬𝒙𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚, 𝑮𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑶𝒌𝒑𝒆𝒃𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒐

𝑂𝑛 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑓 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑀𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑓𝑓 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑑𝑜 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑐 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒 (𝐸𝑑𝑜𝐺𝐼𝑆), 𝐼 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝐻𝑖𝑠 𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦, 𝐺𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑀𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑂𝑘𝑝𝑒𝑏ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑜, 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑐𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑑𝑎𝑦.

𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦'𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑑𝑜 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐸𝑑𝑜𝐺𝐼𝑆 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛. 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦, 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛. 𝑈𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ, 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝐸𝑑𝑜 𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑛 𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑐𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.

𝐴𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑤𝑒 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐸𝑑𝑜 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒, 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑙. 𝑊𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐺𝑜𝑑'𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑒𝑑 𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑑𝑜𝑚, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠.

𝐻𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑦 𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑑𝑎𝑦, 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦.

𝐴𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑐. 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑓. 𝐼𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐸ℎ𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑛𝑎 𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑜, 𝐹𝑁𝐶𝐴, 𝑃ℎ𝐷
𝑀𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟,
𝐸𝑑𝑜 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑐 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒 (𝐸𝑑𝑜𝐺𝐼𝑆)

28/08/2026

NSUK Delegation Led by Prof. Andrew Zamani Pays Courtesy Visit to EdoGIS, Commends MD's Appointment

𝐵𝑦 𝐷𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑎 𝑈𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒/ 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑂𝑔ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑎 𝐵𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑤𝑜

BENIN CITY — The Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS) on Friday received a delegation from Nasarawa State University (NSUK), led by Professor Andrew Zamani, President of the Pan African Psychology Union and former Director of the Institute of Governance and Strategic Studies at NSUK. He was accompanied by Dr. Danladi Lucky Otiso, a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the university.

The visit, held at the EdoGIS headquarters in Benin City, was presided over by the Managing Director, Assoc. Prof. Innocent Ehiaguina Bello, alongside principal officers of the agency, including the Surveyor General of the State, the Director of Land Services, the Director of Finance and Accounts, and the Director of Shared Services.

Prof. Zamani, who was in Edo State for the annual conference of the Nigerian Psychological Association, described the visit as an act of courtesy and fraternity, extended to congratulate Prof. Bello on his appointment to lead EdoGIS. He commended the Managing Director's academic record and his history of mentoring postgraduate researchers at NSUK, noting his proficiency and reputation for diligence. He urged Prof. Bello to remain guided by integrity and faith in discharging the responsibilities of land administration, describing it as one of the more sensitive assignments in public service.

In his welcome remarks, Prof. Bello reflected on his long-standing relationship with NSUK, where he has served as on sabbatical and as Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Geography since 2019, helping to stabilise and grow the university's M.Sc. GIS and land administration programme from a postgraduate diploma to a full doctoral track. He noted that the courtesy visit represented more than an official engagement, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen the bond between the academic community and the responsibilities of public service.

Prof. Bello outlined EdoGIS's mandate beyond land documentation, highlighting its work in geographic information systems, remote sensing, data mapping, surveying, geospatial data management, and spatial planning. He identified areas of potential collaboration between EdoGIS and NSUK, including research, staff and student capacity building, internship placements, and the application of geospatial and earth observation technologies to development challenges.

The Managing Director also passed on his warm regards to the NSUK Vice Chancellor, Professor Lima, whom he commended for her fairness in handling institutional matters during his time at the university. He further promised to sustain the symbiotic relations between the town and the gown and keep supporting in teaching and research as the need arises.

The visit concluded with both parties expressing commitment to a stronger partnership between the institutions, especially in research, then followed by a group photograph.

27/08/2026

GOODWILL MESSAGE ON THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CREATION OF EDO STATE

Celebrating 35 Years of Progress, Transformation and Development

On behalf of the Management and Staff of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), I heartily felicitate with His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Executive Governor of Edo State, the Government and good people of Edo State on the auspicious occasion of the 35th Anniversary of the creation of Edo State on 27th August 1991.

Thirty-five years of statehood is a remarkable milestone in the history of our dear State. It is a moment to celebrate our rich cultural heritage, resilience, ingenuity and the tremendous contributions of successive administrations and citizens to the growth and development of Edo State.

This anniversary is particularly significant as Edo State continues to witness a new wave of transformational development under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo. His administration's commitment to modern governance, institutional strengthening, economic development and digital transformation is creating a solid foundation for a more prosperous and sustainable Edo State.

At EdoGIS, we are especially grateful for His Excellency's giant stride in repositioning the Service through the provision of modern infrastructure, technology and institutional support, transforming EdoGIS into a full-fledged, state-of-the-art geospatial and digital land administration outfit.

This strategic intervention is revolutionizing land administration in Edo State through the deployment of modern geospatial technologies, digital land records, improved cadastral systems, efficient land information management and enhanced service delivery. It is strengthening transparency, reducing bottlenecks, improving land transactions and creating greater confidence for citizens, investors and development partners.

The transformation of EdoGIS is therefore not merely about technology; it is about building a modern land administration system that supports investment, protects property rights, promotes orderly physical development, curbs land grabbing and contributes significantly to the economic development of Edo State.

As Edo State celebrates 35 years, EdoGIS remains committed to supporting the SHINE Agenda of the present administration and ensuring that geospatial information, digital technology and efficient land administration become powerful instruments for sustainable development.

We salute the people of Edo State for their resilience, unity and unwavering commitment to the advancement of our State. We also acknowledge the contributions of past leaders, traditional institutions, public servants, professionals, entrepreneurs, development partners and citizens who have contributed to the Edo we celebrate today.

As we look forward to the next chapter of Edo State's journey, we are confident that the ongoing digital transformation of land administration will continue to unlock opportunities, attract investment, facilitate infrastructure development and improve the quality of life of our people.

Happy 35th Anniversary to Edo State!

Long live Edo State!
Long live the Government and people of Edo State!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Courtesy:
Assoc. Prof. Innocent Ehi Bello, FNCA
Managing Director, Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS)

26/08/2026

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝

𝐵𝑦 𝐷𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑎 𝑈𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒/ 𝐵𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑂𝑠𝑒𝑔ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑒/ 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑂𝑔ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑎 𝐵𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑤𝑜

The Managing Director of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), Assoc. Prof. Innocent Ehiaguina Bello, has called for stronger collaboration between the agency and professional town planners to check the rising incidence of land grabbing, unapproved development and flooding across Edo State. He made the call on Wednesday, 26th August 2026, while receiving a delegation from the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Edo State branch, on a courtesy visit to the EdoGIS headquarters in Benin City.

The delegation, led by the branch's pioneer chairman, TPL George Osagiede, included the association's Public Relations Officer, TPL Boniface Odafen Ohunyon; a member, TPL Olakunle Moniru; the Financial Secretary, TPL Peace U. Efosa; and TPL Faniran Joshua. The team congratulated Prof. Bello on his first hundred days in office, describing his tenure as one that has already repositioned EdoGIS in land administration.

In his welcome remarks, Prof. Bello said the timing of the visit coincided with a period of rapid urbanisation and growing demand for land across residential, commercial, industrial and institutional uses in the state, making strict adherence to planning standards more critical than ever. He noted that development without proper planning had produced uncontrolled urban expansion, blocked drainages, building setback violations and avoidable disputes, citing the recent flooding experienced across parts of the state as a direct consequence of construction on unapproved lands and waterways.

He appealed to the association to ensure their clients complied with approved development standards and paid statutory land use charges, stressing that government requires such revenue to provide infrastructure and public services. On the fight against land racketeering, he warned that EdoGIS would show no leniency toward anyone found facilitating fraudulent land transactions, multiple sales of land, or the obstruction of registered access routes and public drainage channels. He urged members of the public to conduct proper due diligence, including confirming ownership, planning and acquisition status, before committing resources to any parcel of land.

Prof. Bello also linked the agency's work to the SHINE agenda of the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, saying orderly land administration was fundamental to the security, health, infrastructure, nutrition and education pillars of the administration's development vision. He reaffirmed EdoGIS's commitment to leveraging GIS, remote sensing, cadastral mapping and spatial data infrastructure to support planning and development monitoring across the state, and described the relationship between EdoGIS and town planning consultants as one of shared responsibility rather than mere oversight.

Speaking on behalf of the association, TPL George Osagiede outlined six areas for proposed collaboration with EdoGIS. These included a requirement for land use plans prepared by registered town planners for parcels of one hectare and above; the accompaniment of land applications with site or location plans to establish planning context; measures to prevent road closures and community encroachment through properly documented access routes; joint work with communities and local government on layout schemes to guide land use, road reservation and public facilities; the deployment of the association's technical expertise in areas such as urban renewal, development control and road network planning; and deeper integration of professional planning data into the state's GIS and land records systems. He requested that EdoGIS consider ATOPCON a strategic professional partner in matters of land use planning and physical development in the state.

Responding, Prof. Bello welcomed the proposals, noting that many of the challenges raised, including the absence of registered layouts in communities and unresolved boundary disputes, stemmed from a lack of documentation that GIS-based approaches could resolve. He disclosed plans by EdoGIS to convene a stakeholder seminar bringing together community leaders to sensitise them on new land administration initiatives in the state, and directed that his team explore a mechanism for professional bodies to accompany site inspection teams for large parcel applications.

Other members of the EdoGIS management team present at the meeting also spoke on the need for community boundary surveys, stricter enforcement of environmental impact assessments, and the reinstatement of professional reports, including town planning, housing, land and survey reports, in the processing of development applications.

The visit ended with both parties reaffirming their commitment to a stronger, continuous partnership between EdoGIS and the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria in pursuit of orderly, sustainable land development in Edo State.

26/08/2026

𝐄𝐝𝐨𝐆𝐈𝐒, 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡-𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐃𝐇 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐨'𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬

𝐵𝘺 𝘔𝑢𝘺𝑖𝘸𝑎 𝐴𝘬𝑖𝘯𝑠𝘢𝑛𝘺𝑎 / 𝐷𝘢𝑣𝘪𝑛𝘢 𝘜𝑠𝘩𝑒𝘳𝑒

BENIN CITY — The Managing Director of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), Assoc. Prof. Innocent Ehiaguina Bello, has restated the agency's readiness to deploy geospatial technology in support of forest preservation and sustainable land use in Edo State, during a courtesy visit by a delegation from IDH, the Netherlands-based Sustainable Trade Initiative, known locally as the Impact Development Hub.

The IDH delegation was led by B.S Kadiri, a retired Permanent Secretary in Edo State who now serves on the compact team, alongside Ogwu Abraham, Senior Manager at IDH, and Soji Tella, Head of the technical team.

Briefing the MD, Mr Kadiri described the origins of the Protection, Promotion and Inclusion (PPI) Compact, an initiative launched in 2022 and 2023 through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by EdoGIS, oil palm communities in the Okomu forest landscape, the Okomu Oil Palm Company, research institutions and other government agencies. He disclosed that of Edo State's 49 gazetted forest reserves, only the Okomu Forest Reserve retains meaningful forest cover, and said the compact was designed to reverse the loss of forest across the state using Okomu as a pilot.

He reported that the initiative has so far led to the planting of close to 3,000 trees, the empowerment of 1,081 smallholder farmers now linked to a formal market with the Okomu Oil Palm Company, and the delivery of 33,000 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches by smallholders under a new price-sharing arrangement between farmers and processors. He also highlighted the establishment of the Forest Monitoring and Enforcement Team (FMET), a state-backed body comprising the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Environment and other agencies, trained by IDH to monitor forest cover using digital tools, as well as a beekeeping scheme in which women account for 48 percent of participants.

Soji Tella spoke on IDH's National Initiative for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders, noting that its first phase ran from 2019 to 2023 across Ondo and Edo States, while the current phase, running from 2024 to 2028, is focused solely on Edo State. He explained that oil palm exports to European markets now require certification under Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standards, which prohibit sourcing from deforested land, and that a recent RSPO assessment of smallholder farms had found discrepancies between official land records and actual ground conditions. He disclosed that an IDH implementing partner had secured a grant of 450,000 dollars to pursue RSPO certification for Edo State smallholders, which would be the first such certification undertaken in Nigeria.

A member of the delegation added that outdated cadastral information, some dating back to gazettes from the early twentieth century, was hampering land use reconciliation in the forest landscape, and appealed to EdoGIS for updated maps to support the process.

In his response, Prof. Bello welcomed the partnership but urged the delegation to look beyond maps and grants toward a broader institutional collaboration. He proposed joint forest mapping and inventory work, satellite-based forest monitoring using freely available Sentinel and Landsat imagery in partnership with the National Space Research and Development Agency, the development of a GIS-based forest management decision support system, community-based monitoring, land use planning, capacity building, a forest information platform, and collaboration on climate and carbon monitoring and research. He stressed that any partnership with EdoGIS must be institutional rather than built around individual staff members, so that its benefits are properly documented and sustained.

He linked the collaboration to the SHINE agenda of the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, noting the administration's emphasis on rural development as a means of curbing rural-to-urban migration and its associated pressures on land and security. He called for the partnership to move from policy and advocacy toward measurable impact on the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities, stating a preference for practical governance over what he described as symbolic engagement.

Both sides agreed to sustain the collaboration, with IDH pledging continued engagement with EdoGIS as an institutional partner in the drive to restore and protect Edo State's forest resources.

25/08/2026

𝐀 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨'𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐝𝐨𝐆𝐈𝐒

𝘉𝘺 — 𝘔𝘶𝘺𝘪𝘸𝘢 𝘈𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘢

One hundred days ago, Assoc. Prof. Innocent Ehiaguina Bello, FNCA, PhD, assumed leadership of the Edo State Geographic Information Service as Managing Director, carrying with him not only decades of professional standing as Fellow and National President of the Nigerian Cartographic Association, but a clear resolve to reposition the agency as a model of transparency and efficiency in land administration. One hundred days later, that resolve has translated into results that residents, stakeholders, and the Edo State Government can see and feel.

Chief among these has been a decisive crackdown on land grabbers and the fraudulent claims that have long trailed property transactions across the state. Under Assoc. Prof. Bello's watch, EdoGIS has moved from reactive complaint-handling to proactive enforcement, curbing the activities of racketeers and putting a firm end to unnecessary and speculative land claims that had, for years, clouded titles and discouraged genuine investors. This shift alone has begun to restore public confidence in the integrity of land records in Edo State.

That renewed confidence rests on a workforce the Managing Director has deliberately invested in. Staff across the agency have received hands-on training in modern tools and workflows, while a parallel digital sensitisation drive has pushed EdoGIS deeper into the everyday awareness of Edo residents. The payoff came quickly and visibly: EdoGIS's official page became the first social media platform belonging to an Edo State Ministry, Department, or Agency to earn Meta's verification badge, a small blue mark that speaks to a much larger story of credibility and professionalism.

Nowhere has that professionalism been more consequential than in the Certificate of Occupancy process. In just over two months, EdoGIS has recorded a multiple, sustained increase in C of O collections, with a massive rollout of certificates issued free of encumbrances. It was this demonstrable, encumbrance-free rollout that convinced Governor Monday Okpebholo's administration to approve utility vehicles for the agency, a vote of confidence in the pace and integrity of the work being done. On the dispute resolution front, the Bello administration has also succeeded where previous efforts fell short, finally bringing closure to the long-running Okeoroma community land issue that had persisted for years.

The numbers tell their own story. In under seventy days, EdoGIS's revenue drive has improved by more than 30 percent, a leap that reflects both tightened processes and restored public trust in the agency's dealings. That growth has not come at the expense of the people who deliver it: staff welfare has been given proper attention alongside a renewed emphasis on responsibility and accountability across the workforce, ensuring that improved output is matched by improved conditions for the men and women behind it.

One hundred days is a short span in the life of an institution, yet Assoc. Prof. Bello has used it to set a new tone for land administration in Edo State, one defined by integrity, technology, and service to the people. The EdoGIS family joins well-wishers across the state in congratulating the Managing Director on a first quarter that has laid a formidable foundation, with every indication that the best is still to come.

24/08/2026

𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐆𝐈𝐒, 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐂 𝐎𝐅 𝐎 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

𝐵𝑦 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑂𝑔ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑎 𝐵𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑤𝑜

BENIN CITY — The Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS) has received a delegation from the Benin Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BENCCIMA) on a courtesy visit aimed at strengthening collaboration between the business community and the state's land administration institution.

The delegation was led by the Chambers' President, Engr. Godwin Omoregie, and included its Public Relations Officer, Hon. Ekpen Odemewingie, and its Project Manager and Consultant, Engr. Idehen Aiwerioghene. Speaking on behalf of the Chambers, Hon. Odemewingie told the EDOGIS management that members of the business community had, in the past, faced significant challenges accessing their land titles and documents, but noted a marked shift in that narrative since the appointment of Assoc. Prof. Innocent E. Bello, PhD, FNCA, as Managing Director, with many members now able to obtain their Certificates of Occupancy. He expressed the Chambers' appreciation for the efficiency EDOGIS has brought to the process, noting that the visit was an opportunity to place other pressing issues affecting the business community before the Managing Director. The delegation also raised the matter of a proposed cooperative facility for its members, presenting a specific location the Chambers hopes to develop and requesting EDOGIS's assistance in verifying the validity of the site to enable them to proceed, a request Prof. Bello assured them the agency would look into.

Receiving the delegation, Prof. Bello described the visit as a strong demonstration of the importance the business community attaches to efficient, transparent and reliable land administration. He noted that land remains one of the most important assets for business development, investment, industrialization and economic growth, stressing that without secure land tenure and proper documentation, businesses may struggle to access finance, attract investors and plan for long-term growth.

He said EDOGIS's vision is to ensure that land administration in Edo State becomes increasingly transparent, efficient, technology-driven and investor-friendly through the application of Geographic Information Systems, digital mapping and improved land administration processes. He said the agency was particularly pleased to hear the Chambers' concerns regarding the need to obtain Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) for their land and properties, describing the C of O as formal recognition of a legitimate interest in land that strengthens security of tenure for meaningful economic activities.

He assured the delegation that EDOGIS was ready to provide the necessary guidance and professional assistance within the framework of the law, and that officers of the agency would guide the Chambers through the appropriate processes for documentation and issuance of title where genuine and properly acquired interests in land exist. He encouraged the Chambers to take advantage of ongoing reforms in land administration, noting that properly documented land enhances the ability of businesses to secure financing, develop commercial properties and attract partnerships and investments.

The EDOGIS boss described the organized private sector as a critical partner in the development of Edo State and commended the Chambers for recognizing the importance of engaging directly with the institution responsible for land administration, describing such collaboration as key to reducing avoidable challenges and promoting greater confidence in the land administration system.

In turn, the Chambers appealed for the enforcement of land use charge bills in Edo State, affirming their agreement with the state government that payment of tenement rates and land use charges helps strengthen the state's economic base. The delegation pledged their cooperation in this regard and commended Prof. Bello for his swift intervention on C of O processing and administrative matters affecting their members.

24/08/2026

100 Days of Reform: Assoc. Prof. Innocent Ehiaguina Bello, FNCA, EdoGIS, and the SHINE Agenda