The Ogun state government has distributed certificates of occupancy (C of O) to 1,000 beneficiaries of the homeowners’ scheme initiated by the state government to allow homeowners normalize their title documents at a reduced cost.
At a ceremony held at the arcade ground of the governor’s office in Abeokuta, the state capital, the State Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Ronke Sokefun, said that the scheme is part of effort towards short, medium and long term development.
As stated by the Commissioner, the homeowners charter scheme has ensured enumeration data for short, medium and long term planning for roads, hospitals, and other social services.
“Since its launch in 2013, and despite the initial hiccups and challenges, the programme has afforded owners of eligible properties built on private or government lands the opportunity of getting certificate of occupancy, building plan approval and other title documents,” she stated.
The government also assured applicants who are yet to receive their certificates not to exercise apprehension as their certificates are being processed
“We want all those who have qualified, assessed and paid to give us time. We are working on it, we have come up with faster processes and we have improved on the way it is being processed.
“We are assuring them that in 2017 it is going to be better than what have done so far” the Director General of Lands said
The beneficiaries commended the government for living up to its promise and one of them told Channels TV: “I am so happy. I have been longing for this for long. We have been on this for so long but I thank God that I am holding my certificate of occupancy,
“I am so happy. I thank the state government for keeping faith with its promise. I am using this opportunity to tell others that the scheme is real, it is not fake at all.”
The homeowners scheme was initiated by the state government in 2013 to reduce the challenges of obtaining the certificate of occupancy, and to allow beneficiaries to regularize their title documents at reduced cost.
It is expected to also aid socioeconomic development of the state.
.....Channels TV