Kaduna property owner to get Electronic CofO at N20, 000 – Gobroadsheet
//Property: Shola Ojo, Kaduna//
Kaduna State Government has called on land title owners to get the newly introduced electronic Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) at the cost of N20, 000.
But the government did not state clearly whether the amount will be for 99 years according to land use act of 1979 or to be renewed on annual basis.
The idea according to the State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai is to guard against fraudulent land transactions and ensure uniformity of land titles in the state.
The Governor, who stated this when he visited the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) to convert the old CofO of his personal residence to the new electronic version said, the new digital CofO comes with security features to guard against fraudulent practices and land racketeering.
Speaking shortly after capturing his details, El-Rufai said the Kaduna master plan that came into being in 1917 was last reviewed in 1967, adding is also due for another review by 2017 as it did not cater for the excessive growth presently witnessed in the city.
“I got my CofO in Kaduna , but what I have come to KADGIS to convert it to the new electronic CofO. They have taken my details after paying the required amount of N20,000. So, in 30 days time, I will return here to pick the electronic CofO.
“What we are trying to do is to ensure that everyone that owns land in Kaduna, whether residential or farmland has CoO with evidence of payment. We don’t want duplication of certificate of occupancy, we want a cleaned-up process, so that everyone will have electronic copies.
“The new digital certificate of occupancy has security features that will reduce racketeering and can be used by land owners to obtain loans from the banks. Also, with a click of computer button, lawyers can google and verify your land details for any land transaction,” he said.
On the master plan, El-Rufai said: “the Kaduna master plan is to protect the integrity of Kaduna city. It was drawn up and signed in July 1917 and was revised in 1967. Kaduna is growing rapidly and we want to ensure that the growth is controlled and made more sensible and rational”, added the governor.