AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AKWA IBOM STATE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (AKWAGIS) IN REDUCING LAND TRANSACTION BOTTLENECKS IN UYO METROPOLIS

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Akwa Ibom State Geographic Information System (AKWAGIS) in reducing land transaction bottlenecks in Uyo Metropolis. Land transaction bottlenecks, characterized by inordinate processing delays, opaque record-keeping, multiple allocation of parcels, pervasive corruption, and high transaction costs, have long impeded the efficiency of land administration in Akwa Ibom State. AKWAGIS was established as a technology-driven reform instrument to address these challenges through GIS-enabled cadastral mapping, digital land record management, and automated transaction processing. Despite its establishment, anecdotal and practitioner evidence suggested the persistence of significant bottlenecks, pointing to a critical need for systematic empirical evaluation. The study adopted a concurrent triangulation mixed-methods design, combining a cross-sectional quantitative survey of 338 respondents drawn from six stakeholder categories; estate surveyors and valuers, property lawyers, property developers, commercial banks and mortgage institutions, AKWAGIS staff, and Ministry of Lands officials with qualitative in-depth interviews of 20 purposively selected key informants. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Paired Samples t-test, Pearson/Spearman Correlation, One-Way ANOVA, Multiple Regression, and Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis framework. Findings revealed that AKWAGIS has achieved statistically significant reductions in processing time for land transactions, with mean processing time declining from 18.6 months (pre-AKWAGIS) to 9.2 months (post-AKWAGIS), representing a 50.5% reduction (p < 0.05), reflecting improvement in land administration and management in Uyo Metropolis. The study found a significant positive relationship between AKWAGIS utilization and perceived improvement in the transparency and accuracy of land records (r = 0.612, p < 0.01). The study concluded that while AKWAGIS has made meaningful progress in reducing land transaction bottlenecks in Uyo Metropolis, its full potential remains unrealized due to operational and institutional constraints. The study recommends accelerated digitization of pre-existing land records, enhanced investment in ICT infrastructure and reform on Governor’s consent framework to fully align with AKWAGIS's digital workflow capabilities.