Nigeria, May 19, 2016 – The Lagos State Government has generated over N8billion from land matters between May 2015 and March 2016 while Governor Akinwunmi Ambode signed 5,625 Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) within same period.
Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Mr. Bode Agoro, made this known at the ongoing 2016 Ministerial Press Briefing in Lagos. He said the feat was borne out of the state government’s strong will, immense capacity for hard work and desire to escalate and accelerate the process of issuing land title.
According to him, “the need for the acceleration of the titling process is that a high number of property owners in the state have realized the importance of having titles for their lands, especially the business community, as registered land titles are major documents needed as collateral for obtaining facilities from financial institutions.”
In addition, Agoro pointed out that the Directorate of Land Services in the Bureau has also introduced a new form IC which incorporates the passport photograph of the purchaser which will also be affixed on the deeds, emphasizing that only one deed will be released to the applicant in line with what obtains with the processing of Certificate of Occupancy.
On the issue of land grabbers popularly known as ‘Ajagungbale/Omoonile’, Mr. Bode Agoro lamented that the hoodlums have constituted themselves as nuisance to the peace and socio-economic activities of the state in regards to land transaction, especially as it relates to allottees of Government land.
He disclosed that as part of efforts to curb the nefarious activities of these miscreants, the legislative arm of Government has proposed a Bill to prohibit forcible entry and occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conduct in relation to landed properties in Lagos State and for connected purposes.
The Bill, which is expected to become a Law and take effect in the third quarter of 2016, will criminalise the activities of land grabbers with prison terms ranging from 2-10 years upon conviction.
