In a major move to improve the ease of doing business and land administration in Cross River State, the Governor of the state, Bassey Otu, has announced the full digitalisation and fast-tracking of the Certificate of Occupancy issuance process.
On the state’s website, it was stated that Otu made this public during a courtesy and presentation visit by the Cross River State Land Cluster, where he reiterated his administration’s commitment to his People First mantra by removing bureaucratic bottlenecks that have long plagued property owners and investors in the state.
“Getting a Certificate of Occupancy used to take years, frustrating many landlords and business owners. Now, we are changing that. With this new digital system, we can deliver certificates faster, cleaner, and more efficiently,” the governor said.
The initiative, championed by the Cross River State Land Cluster with the support of Nugi Technologies Nigeria Ltd, marked a significant shift from analogue to fully digital processing, enabling transparency and faster delivery times.
The Director-General of the Cross River State Geographical Information Agency, Williams Archibong, lauded the governor for creating a conducive environment to deliver on this promise.
Archibong stated, “With the new system, C-of-O for government land will now be issued within 21 days, and within 42 days for private land. This is a major departure from the past administration, where analogue systems led to delays and frequent errors. Now, everything is digitised and streamlined.”
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, Nugi Technologies Nigeria Ltd, Akinlabi Ajoke, described the rollout as a dream come true for the company and its partners in the Land Cluster.
She said, “When we say digital, we mean from start to finish. Every stage of the process, from application to final issuance, is now online. This synergy between the land cluster, the state government, and our technology team is what makes this breakthrough possible.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Lands, Dr Francis Ekpenyong, described the issuance of C-of-Os as a long-overdue liberation for Cross Riverians who had been marginalised by banks and financial institutions due to the absence of proper land documentation.
“This exercise is unlocking Cross Riverians who were locked out of the economy. With these certificates, property owners can now stand tall before any financial institution,” he remarked.
The Surveyor-General of the State, Patrick Bassey, hailed the digital transformation, pointing out new security features like QR codes that make each C-of-O verifiable and tamper-proof.
“This shows Cross River is now on a digital growth path. I urge citizens to take advantage of the new system.”
As part of the unveiling, the governor presented Certificates of Occupancy to some landlords and businesses, including Prof Victor Ansa, as well as Mainland Oil and Gas Company Ltd.
Speaking on behalf of other recipients, Ansa said, “I applied many years back, and it felt almost impossible to get a C-of-O. But this administration has changed that narrative. It’s a new dawn for Cross River. This reform sends a strong message that the state is open and ready for business.”
