Fashola Unveils Business Process Automation of Certificates of Occupancy for Federal Lands

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN,CON, has unveiled the  Business Process Automation  of Certificate of Occupancy (e.C of O) for Federal Lands.

The event took place at the Ministry’s Conference room, Mabushi, Abuja.

Fashola, in his keynote address, said that the initiative was another layer and level of technological advancement  in the country and   urged the ministry to sustain and maintain it 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, there by ending the era of carrying several  bags of files of C of O for manual endorsement at home even on weekends.

“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 remarked.

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

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

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

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 greatly serve as legal collateral to such  land owners in accessing loans.

Accordingly, 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.