The governor of Lagos, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode on Tuesday signed and approved the immediate release of 2500 Certificates of Occupancy (CofO) 2500 Lagos Residents Get CofO, As Ambode Warns Street Tradersto property owners across the state from Wednesday, September 9, 2015.
Executive Secretary in the Lands Bureau, Mr. Olukayode Ogunnubi, who disclosed this to journalists, said the development was in line with Governor Ambode’s effort to clear the backlog of CofO that was carried over from the previous administration.
He said: "a clear distinction must be made that this present government wants Lagosians to maximise the economic benefits derivable from ownership of properties as evidenced by obtaining their legal titles.
"That’s what we are trying to achieve and that’s the reason why the Governor decided to clear all the back log, everything. Now we do not have pending C of O on our table."
Ogunnubi said the advantage of the recent development will enable owners to leverage on the C of O as collateral to obtain loans from financial institutions for business activities.
"This will also contribute to the growth of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and ultimately the development of the economy of the state," he said.
He said going forward, Governor Ambode intends to ensure that the process of applying and getting the copy of the C of O is not only less cumbersome but treated within the stipulated time.
"So once we have any new applicant for C of O, the Governor’s mandate is to ensure that he signs it within the 90 days tenure. Once you make your payment, we start the processing.
"Let me also report that we are going on the Electronic C of O fully (E-C of O). All the ones he signed are also E-C of O.
"In a nutshell, the idea is to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and this is what the Governor intends to achieve in line with his commitment to make life simple and easy for the people.
"This is a standard milestone as the last time such was witnessed was during the era of the first civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande," he said adding that the list of all the 2500 C of O’s signed by Governor Ambode will be published in national dailies from Wednesday.
Meanwhile Governor Ambode, on Tuesday presided over the monthly Security Council Meeting at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, with an assurance that the law enforcement agencies in the state would intensify their enforcement against street trading and the Road Traffic Law.
Briefing Government House Correspondents after the meeting, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said the meeting discussed various issues bothering on street trading, robbery in the traffic, influx of elements being taken as Boko Haram and some other issues, with a way of finding lasting solution.
"The meeting looked holistically at what transpired in the state in the past one month with a view of finding lasting solution.
"For instance, we discussed about issues on street trading, robbery in traffic, influx of elements being taken as Boko Haram noticed in the metropolis in the past few days," Owoseni said.
The Police Commissioner also assured that the section of the Traffic Law as it relates to restriction of movement of trailers and articulated vehicles between the hours of 6am to 9pm would be enforced in a manner that would not impede commercial activities in the state.
He however said that Section 2(1) of the law exempts trucks conveying petroleum products and passenger vehicles.
He said the meeting has resolved to ensure they enforce the laws against street trading, most especially the truck drivers complying with the existing laws.
"We shall ensure we enforce the law, most especially with the truck drivers complying with the extant laws and also ensure that extant laws on street trading is enforced, with regards to that we looked at human element in enforcing the law," he said.
He said aside from enforcements, the council has also decided to embark upon sensitization and public enlightenment as a strategy to dissuade members of the public from patronizing street traders.
"We do a lot of enlightenment with regards to that. With enforcement, we combine it with enlightenment and synergise with stakeholders to make sure that the laws that have been enacted are obeyed and we enforce them strictly.
"We’ve also stepped up efforts on where okada are prohibited and we keep up effort on that.
"In the course of enforcement we don’t add to the gridlock. We appeal to members of the public to beware of fake security operatives coming to them," he said.
The Police Commissioner also enumerated strategies being put in place to prevent armed groups from infiltrating the state.
He said: "it is important that we do not allow any form of armed groups to come into the state before reacting.
"This is why we have put in place proactive measures such as constant raids on dark spots and criminal hide outs as well as random checks at entry points into the state."
He however urged all law-abiding citizens to continue to go about their legitimate business without fear of molestation.