By ROSEMARY ONUOHA
The Lagos State government is to henceforth issue Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) on properties to new applicants within 90 days of payment.

Executive Secretary in the State’s Lands Bureau, Mr Olukayode Ogunnubi, said in a statement that government’s plan is to ensure that the process of applying and getting the document is not only less cumbersome but treated within the stipulated time. He made the statement following the  signing and approval for immediate release of 2,500 C of O’s by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to property owners across the state.

“Once we have any new applicant for C of O, the Governor’s mandate is to ensure that he signs it within the 90 days tenure. So, once you make your payment, we start the processing. Let me also report that we are going on the Electronic C of O fully (E-C of O). All the ones he signed are also E-C of O. The idea is to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and this is what the Governor intends to achieve in line with his commitment to make life simple and easy for the people. This is a standard milestone as the last time such was witnessed was during the era of the first civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande,” he said.

Ogunnubi said the release of the C of O’s was to enable owners to leverage on the C of O as collateral to obtain loans from financial institutions for business activities.

“A clear distinction must be made that this present government wants Lagosians to maximise the economic benefits derivable from ownership of properties as evidenced by obtaining their legal titles. That’s what we are trying to achieve and that’s the reason why the Governor decided to clear all the back log, everything.

Now we do not have pending C of O on our table. This will also contribute to the growth of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and ultimately the development of the economy of the state. In a nutshell, the idea is to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and this is what the Governor intends to achieve in line with his commitment to make life simple and easy for the people”, he stated.