A landmark legislative effort aimed at reforming land transactions in Abia State is gaining momentum, as the Abia State Land Instrument Registration (Amendment No. 1) Bill, sponsored by Hon. Chinasa Abiola, passed its second reading during plenary on Tuesday.
Hon. Abiola, who represents the Umuahia Central State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, told THE WHISTLER in an exclusive interview on Wednesday that the bill is designed to create a secure and transparent legal framework that will bolster investor confidence in the state.
According to the lawmaker, the amendment bill addresses persistent issues in the state’s land sector, including the proliferation of fraudulent land documents, the involvement of non-professionals in legal drafting, and land speculation by impostors.
“Abia State, as of today, has become a haven for investors, particularly in infrastructure and development projects,” Abiola said.
“Under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, the state has moved to Olympian heights. This bill is a continuation of that progress, ensuring our land administration reflects professionalism and integrity.”
A core provision of the bill mandates that lawyers who prepare land documents must be clearly identified with the documents they produce. This means each legal document must include the name and credentials of the drafting lawyer, adding a layer of accountability and traceability.
“This bill proposes a situation whereby if you are a lawyer and you prepare a document, that document will bear your identity,” Hon. Abiola explained.
“You can be identified through the document, and this makes it difficult for quacks and impostors to operate.”
Additionally, the bill requires that all land sellers swear to an affidavit affirming their legal ownership of the land in question before any instrument can be registered. This move is aimed at reducing fraudulent sales and increasing legal certainty for buyers and investors.
The lawmaker further noted that the existing law governing land instrument registration in Abia State dates back to 1925 and is overdue for reform to meet modern realities and legal expectations.
“The essence of the bill is to curb the activities of quacks,” he said. “We are doing everything necessary to checkmate fraudulent practices in our land sector and make the state more attractive to genuine investors.”
The bill is receiving widespread attention for its potential to transform land registration processes in the state, providing clarity, professionalism, and security for both investors and property owners.
THE WHISTLER reports that the bill, once passed into law, is expected to create a more robust legal foundation for land transactions in Abia State, reduce litigation over land disputes, and foster economic growth through improved investor trust and streamlined procedures.