‘Delta to issue C of O in 90 days’

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa yesterday launched the Fast Track 90 scheme, which is designed to simplify the issuance of Certificate-of-Occupancy to property owners in the state.

Okowa said the innovative policy would enhance the ease of doing business, as property owners would henceforth obtain their C of O within 90 days.

According to the governor, “One of the biggest disincentives to investors anywhere in the world, is the high cost and delays associated with acquiring the
legal titles to landed property.”

He acknowledged that over the years, the process of
obtaining C of O in the state has become very long, arduous, unwieldy and opaque, often resulting in unofficial payments far in excess of the approved amount.”

Okowa stressed that with the new policy, “it would take a maximum of 90 days for land owners to obtain their C of Os, with digital electronics features from the Ministry of Lands and Surveys,’ noting ‘the new system is fast and transparent, and in line with global best practices.”

The new policy is structured to remove all bottlenecks hitherto associated with process of obtaining the certificate, which would in turn stimulate a dynamic business climate.

The governor explained that as part of the process, applicants for the new certificate would, beginning from June this year, be required to pay the sum of N200, 000.

He also disclosed that those in possession of the old certificate would be required to pay N50, 000 to migrate to the digital format, which is electronically generated and fraud-proof.