Edo Govt Appoints Dr. Innocent Bello as EdoGIS MD, Scraps Lands Ministry
By Ojo Evans
_Benin City, April 25, 2026_
The Edo State Government has approved the appointment of Dr. Innocent Ehiaguina Bello as the Managing Director of the Edo State Geographic Information Service, EdoGIS. The announcement was contained in a Government Special Announcement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, Esq.
Dr. Bello is a distinguished geospatial scientist, administrator, and academic with extensive experience in Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing, Spatial Data Infrastructure, and Land Administration. He currently serves as Assistant Director and Head of the Spatial Data Infrastructure Division at the National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, Abuja, and is the National President of the Nigerian Cartographic Association. His expertise covers GIS and Remote Sensing, Land Information Systems and cadastral mapping, environmental impact assessment, geospatial modelling, database design, and digital mapping. He has published dozens of peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers on land use systems, smart city development, environmental sustainability, and national geospatial data infrastructure.
According to the statement, the appointment forms part of the state government’s strategic efforts to restructure land administration, modernize land governance systems, and align operations with international best practices. The reform is also aimed at ensuring compliance with World Bank standards to enhance Edo State’s eligibility for international funding, grants, and participation in global development programmes.
In a major institutional shift, the government has scrapped the Ministry of Lands and Housing. EdoGIS has now been designated as the central and primary organ for land administration in the state. The reform is expected to improve efficiency, transparency, data-driven decision-making, and service delivery in land management across Edo State.
Following the restructuring, the current Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Barr. Vincent Osas Uwadiae, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. The state government reiterated its commitment to institutional reforms that promote efficiency, transparency, and sustainable development in line with global best practices.