To enhance ease of doing business and land administration in Cross River State, Governor Bassey Otu has announced the full digitalization and fast-tracking of the Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) issuance process.
The Governor disclosed this during a courtesy and presentation visit by the Cross River State Land Cluster.
At the ceremony, Gov. Otu reiterated his administration’s commitment to his ‘People First’ mantra by removing bureaucratic bottlenecks that have long plagued property owners and investors in the state.
“Getting a certificate of occupancy used to take years, frustrating many landlords and business owners.
“Now, we are changing that. With this new digital system, we can deliver certificates faster, cleaner, and more efficiently,” the governor said.
The initiative, championed by the Cross River State Land Cluster with the support of Nugi Technologies Nigeria Limited, marks a significant shift from analogue to fully digital processing, enabling transparency and faster delivery times.
Director-General of the Cross River State Demographic Commission, Williams Archibong, praised the governor for creating a conducive environment to deliver on this promise.
“With the new system, C-of-O for government land will now be issued within 21 days, and within 42 days for private land, ” Archibong stated. adding
“This is a major departure from the past administration, where analogue systems led to delays and frequent errors. Now, everything is digitized and streamlined.”
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Also speaking at the event, Ms. Akinlabi Ajoke, Chief Executive Officer of Nugi Technologies Nigeria Limited, described the rollout as a dream come true for the company and its partners in the land cluster.
“When we say digital, we mean from start to finish. Every stage of the process, from application to final issuance, is now online.
“This synergy between the land cluster, the state government, and our technology team is what makes this breakthrough possible,” Ajoke said.
The Commissioner for Lands, Ekpenyong, described the issuance of C-of-Os as a long-overdue liberation for Cross Riverians who had been marginalized by banks and financial institutions due to the absence of proper land documentation.
“This exercise is unlocking Cross Riverians who were locked out of the economy. With these certificates, property owners can now stand tall before any financial institution,” he remarked.
