By Yinka Komolafe
The Ogun State Government has  commenced the re certification of land tittles and issuance of securitised Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) in the state through its Bureau of Lands and Survey (BLS), which is in charge of land matters in the state.

The Director General, BLS, Mr. Gbenga Ogunnoiki, noted in a statement that the process is designed to help capture and store comprehensive information on all land transactions with a view to improving land information management system in the state.

Ogunnoiki asserted that the land re certification exercise will boost property investment and a vibrant property market in the state.

According to him, the re certification programme will enable beneficiaries obtain the state=s new securitised C of O, which is reportedly laced with security features that make forgery virtually impossible.

He said that the delivery time of the new C of O would be accelerated because it is to be driven by the Bureau=s geographic information systems (GIS) land documentation process.  AWhatever the size of the land, the owner is expected to come to the Bureau with whatsoever document he/she has to register the land tittles in order to guarantee ownership of the land,@ he stated.

The BLS boss explained that all that the process entails is to exchange the former C of O, deeds of conveyance, lease and sublease for a new computerised C of O embedded with overt and covert security features.

He said the new GIS based C of O allows all land records in the state to be computerised, making confirmation, analysis, searches and investigations of land transactions easier, prompt and accurate, adding that the new C of O would assist the state in updating its records and in sourcing adequate information about land for proper planning and management.