Delta Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Chika Ossai, today said that the ministry generated N1.7 billion from the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy to land allotees last year.
Ossai, who disclosed this at the 2018 Ministerial media briefing in Asaba, said that the ministry’s target for this year was to generate N4 billion.
He explained that over N3 billion had been raked in by the state government through the Fast Track 90, an organ of the ministry which handles the issuance of the certificate of occupancy in 90 days.
Giving a breakdown of the revenue accruals from C of O source since the inception of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration, the commissioner said that in 2015 N294. 2 million was generated while the organ raked in N1.1 billion and N1.7 billion in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
He said: “Our projected revenue for this year is four billion naira.”
The commissioner said that the ministry had evolved and through innovations deployed Information Communication Technology (ICT) tools and solutions which helped it to migrate all existing Certificates of Occupancy to a new electronic platform with security features.
In addition, Ossai pointed out that the adoption of ICT in land administration had also helped the ministry to regularise all government illegally occupied land across the state.
The Commissioner clarified: “We have also established ground rent committee task force and state committee on ground rent. The ground rent is a compulsory payment by every property owner and this will enable government generate revenue internally and not to fully depend on federal allocation.”
He disclosed that over 1000 copies of Certificates of Occupancy were yet to be collected by land allottees due to irregular payments and inadequate information about applicants.
Ossai therefore urged property owners to always ensure proper documentation of the properties with the ministry to ensure adequate compensation, adding that his ministry has commenced data collections of areas to be demolished in the state.
On the rehabilitation project at the Asaba International Airport and plans of the state government to compensate genuine land owners whose land may be affected by the project, the commissioner assured that government would compensate those with genuine records of title.
He said: “We are mindful of those who acquired land from the community and had approached the ministry for building plans and C of Os, those with such records will be compensated by government.”
According to him, the state government has acquired lands for developmental purposes, promising that adequate compensations are being worked out for the various communities that may be affected by the public acquisition of lands across the state.
