Minister Unveils Business Process Automation of Certificates Occupancy For Federal lands

The  Business Process Automation  of Certificate of Occupancy (e.C of O) for Federal Lands has been unveiled in Abuja the Nation’ capital.

Nigeria’s  Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, at the unveiling said that the initiative was another level of technological advancement  in the country.

He called on the ministry to sustain and maintain the initiative to the expected next level.

He explained that manual processing of  application for and signing of C.of.O which used to be cumbersome and time – consuming would stop with the introduction of this digital platform.

He stressed that the system would also  end the era of carrying several  bags of files of C of O for manual endorsement.

 “Our digital platform is meant to make life better, the thing that used to take three months will now be available in 24 hours. I, as the head of the Ministry, will stop carrying Ghana most go filled with C of Os from Abuja to Lagos or my house, I can now sign many of them on the system within some hours. I think that’s where Nigeria as the biggest black Nation should be,” he said.

The Minister also revealed that about  2,276 files so far, have been  digitalized.

In his remarks, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary,  Mr. Folorunso Esan, commending the Ministry for the successful implementation of the initiative said the project was awarded on  February 17, 2022.

He confirmed that the project will boost public consumption and also enable easy payments.

On his part, the Head of Department and  Director, Lands & Housing Development, Mr. Felix Appah,  said that the process will enthrone transparency in the  activities of land  certification and ownership which will also serve as legal collateral to such  land owners in accessing loans.

Mr Appah, listed  its benefits to government  as improving efficiency in  registration, prevents the issuance of  counterfeit C of O, increase revenue to government, having a  central digital repository for all document, reduce process time for C.of.O applications, digital archiving with index, Reduce storage and printing costs amongst others.

In addition, Nigeria,  implementing an electronic land titling is  in line with international best practices in land administration

Highlight of the event was presentation of C.of.O to some of recipients.

Confidence Okwuchi