New Cs of O to Lagos title holders

[MrVan]

By Jude Njoku

The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to issue new Certificates of Occupancy, Cs of O to title holders in the state. Governor Babatunde Fashola who disclosed this at a press briefing to mark his 1,800 days in office, said the new Cs of O would be a more secure document, said the transition from the old certificate to the new one, would be seamless.

"Because we understand very clearly the importance of proper land documentation to our collective prosperity and economic growth, we are finalizing the plans for the issuance a new certificate of occupancy, different from the yellow certificate that you are accustomed to. The new certificate will be a much more secure, tamper and forge-proof document that is bar-coded and electronically readable," he said.

The Governor who disclosed that the state's Geographic Information System GIS is now fully accessible online, said it has made property searches less cumbersome. "From this site you can view properties and get information about their ownership. What remains to be done is to match all the properties and their owners with their title documents online, and to conclude the electronic payment regime that will allow you to download certified true copies and maps and pay for them online," he said.

On housing, Fashola gave reasons why the construction of a 660-units housing estate at Agbowa has not taken off. According to him, " one of the communities in Agbowa has decided to take the state government to court over the land which government had acquired many years ago. The implication of this is that the 660 housing units meant for people in that community cannot start until the case is resolved".

Speaking on his government's urban renewal program, Gov. Fashola said:"Those of you who ply the Ijora and Costain axis of Lagos would have noticed the regeneration that is going on in that area as well as in Obalende, the area that straddles Lagos and Ikoyi Islands.

"Whilst we are making progress with 14 out of the 15 inner roads we promised to rehabilitate in Agege, the 16  local roads in Badiya, the two schools in Bariga and the one in Gbagada, we have completed eight out of 11 drainage channels in Lekki, while the ones we committed to repairing in Agege, Shomolu and other parts of Lagos after last year's heavy rainfall, are being worked on and considerable progress is being made".

He used the forum to highlight the problems his government is facing in the construction of the bridge and roads in Ijegun, Isheri-Oshun and Isolo Jakande.

"For the people of Ijegun, Isheri Oshun and Isolo Jakande, let me confess that we have had problems with your bridge and connecting roads. The project is enormous. It is a 5.5 kilometre road with a bridge of 500 metres that will require 1,018 piles driven to a depth of 19.5 metres.

"This project will cost the government not less than N10 billion which we are working assiduously to provide so that work can continue.  We have re-evaluated the project in a bid to get the contractors back on site and I promise and assure you that as long as we have the funds we will complete the project," he assured.

Fashola who said his government has awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of a total of 177 inner roads in the state, explained that the contract for the N30 billion 13.19 kilometres Ikorodu road (with several bridges) would soon be awarded.

Vanguard Nigeria