Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has signed 5,481 Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) as of December 31, 2024, marking a historic shift in the processing of land title documents.
This impressive feat comes in stark contrast to the 13-year total of 8,899 C-of-Os signed from 2010 to 2023, with this year’s total surpassing previous years’ figures.
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister, highlighted the key reforms under Wike’s leadership.
Land allottees, who had previously faced long delays in receiving their title documents, can now obtain their C-of-O within two weeks of completing payments.
This timely processing aims to address the frustration that has traditionally plagued land transactions in the FCT.
“Historically, one of the main reasons for delayed payments was the long waiting period for title documents,” Olayinka said.
“But under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, we’ve turned that around, ensuring that landowners now get their Certificates of Occupancy quickly and efficiently.”
In addition to the swift document turnaround, the FCTA has improved the speed of uploading the necessary information about the C-of-O and its recipient.
What once took months to complete is now processed in just 72 hours, ensuring transparency and greater access for landowners.
A comparison of recent figures shows the following: between May 2010 and May 2015, 5,655 C-of-Os were issued, a number that sharply declined to just 1,174 from May 2015 to May 2019.
Another drop occurred between May 2019 and May 2023, with only 1,571 certificates signed.
However, since the inception of President Tinubu’s administration in May 2023, the signing of Certificates has experienced a dramatic surge, with 5,481 C-of-Os signed in just one year under Minister Wike.
To further enhance communication, land allottees whose documents are ready for collection will now receive SMS notifications, ensuring they are promptly informed of the availability of their title documents.
Minister Wike’s efforts reflect a deep commitment to reforming land administration in the FCT, providing a clearer path for landowners and reinforcing the government’s drive for efficient service delivery.