The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that plans have been concluded to begin electronic signing of the land title document, the Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O).
He said C-of-O is the only document he still signs manually as the State’s chief executive hence, the plans to begin electronic signing of the title document.
Obaseki, who disclosed this when he spoke with journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring a completely paperless governance system.
Again, he said the State has embraced technology through the e-governance system and has transitioned into a paperless government, leading to the archiving of seven million government documents.
Obaseki also observed that the new system has streamlined government operations and ensured accountability, transparency, effectiveness, efficiency, and quick service delivery to Edo people.
In addition, he revealed that the State has since commenced the issuance of computerized Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) to landed property owners in the State.
“Plans have been concluded to introduce electronic signing of C-of-Os as part of renewed efforts to enhance efficiency and transparency in land administration,” said the Governor.
According to him, “We have focused on reducing our cost of governance, leveraging technology.”
“We have made significant progress in our land administration system through our nuanced reforms.”
He said very soon, he will begin to sign their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) electronically.
“They are the only documents I sign now. Everything else is online; we’re paperless,” he added.
The governor’s land reforms have led to the approval and issuance of over 30,000 Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) in the last seven and a half years.