Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, has launched Homeowners Charter policy designed to enable home owners in the state to regularize their land documents.

The governor while officially flagging off the enumeration and assessment of properties in the state at Housing Corporation, Ibadan, said it is one of the measures being put in place by the government to lessen the pains of the current economic downturn.

He also announced that the state government is changing from the current use of the paper-based Certificate of Occupancy to 'e-C of O', the Electronic Certificate of Occupancy with security features to make it a lot more copy proof.

He explained that the Homeowners Charter scheme was created to enable home owners in Oyo State who currently have no title documents like survey and building plans to obtain titles with great ease and at very affordable rates of N120,000, assuring that every measure had been put in place to ensure the scheme is transparent and devoid of unnecessary bottlenecks.

He said, “This is one of the measures being put in place by our government not only to lessen the pains of the current economic downturn on our people but to empower them for greater economic possibilities. Also, Oyo State Government is changing from the current use of the paper-based Certificate of Occupancy to 'e-C of O', the electronic Certificate of Occupancy with features to make it a lot more secure and copy proof.

“The electronic C of O will contain the following elements: a scanned photograph of the Owner printed on a copy-proof security paper; an encrypted and enhanced 2D bar code that is unique to the owner; an additional embedded security characteristic containing vital security information that can only be viewed with an enabled barcode reader that is unique to the Owner only; and​ a distinctive Certificate of Occupancy number that will be very legible for all to see."

Ajimobi appealed to the people across the state, especially property owners, to please cooperate with members of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Oyo State Chapter, who will handle the enumeration and assessment exercise, noting that the essence of the enumeration is to generate data that will aid sustainable developmental objectives in the state.

“Without a dependable data base, neither significant nor sustainable developmental objectives can be achieved. However, in order to generate, categorise and databank these critical information, the State Government decided to engage services and collaboration of Oyo State chapter of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV). Our decision to appoint and work with this Institution as Consultants for this very important assignment is a further testimony of this Administration's recognition of the role of professional bodies as able stakeholders in the daunting task of returning our dear state to its traditional and enviable position of the pacesetter”, he stated.

Commissioner for Land, Housing and Survey, Mr. Ajiboye Omodewu, said the enumeration of properties became necessary for effective planning and determination for the provision of infrastructures like water, health centres, police posts, roads among others, appealing to the people of the state to cooperate with the state government to achieve the desired objectives of the exercise.

The state Chairman of NIESV, Mr. Adegboyega Quadri, in his goodwill message, appreciated the state government for establishing a record in the annals of the state by engaging professional for the enumeration exercise, pledging that the Institute would discharge its responsibilities effectively and efficiently.

He noted that the exercise will encourage spatial spread of residential areas as well as being used to challenge census figures and resolve housing deficits, urging that other professional bodies should enjoy patronage from the government.