Anambra State government says the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to private landowners is now done within 30 working days, rather than the former two or three years.

Offornze Amucheazi, the state Commissioner for Lands, disclosed this during the ongoing 2022 revised budget defence.

“Before, it took about two to three years to obtain a C of O, but now, as a private landowner, you can obtain your C of O within 30 working days, so long your documents are complete,” he said.

Mr Amucheazi said that the ministry had set timelines for land or property documentation processes to address numerous resident complaints.

“As time goes on, we will work on a downward review of the timeline.

“We are yet to set a timeline for issuance of C of O for state-owned land because we are waiting for the report of the Land reform committee set up to investigate some issues,” he said.

The commissioner said the ministry had started digitalising land documentation processes in the state to prevent delays.

“By August, we will commence a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) system and Gov. Charles Soludo has approved it.

“Once it commences, within one and half years, we will have an effective GIS system to store, analyse, and visualise data for lands.

“We also hope to have a fireproof safe to protect all land documents in the state. Ministry of Land is very crucial and if we do not get it right, we can not achieve anything in the state,” he said.

Reacting, Chidi Udenmadu, a lawmaker representing Ihiala Constituency l, who chaired the committee, expressed satisfaction with the budgeted projects of the ministry. 

(NAN)