NEWS
Gov. Alex Otti Administration Signs Over 4,000 Certificates of Occupancy, Advances Digital Land Reforms in Abia
The Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has disclosed that no fewer than 4,077 Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) have been signed under his administration within the three years since he assumed office, in what observers describe as a significant milestone in the ongoing reforms of land administration and property documentation in the state.
Governor Otti made the disclosure on Friday during the May edition of the monthly media parley, tagged “Governor Otti Speaks to Abians”, where he highlighted major achievements recorded by his administration as it marks its third anniversary in office.
The Governor noted that the issuance and signing of the Certificates of Occupancy represent a deliberate effort by his administration to strengthen confidence in the land administration system, eliminate bottlenecks associated with land documentation, and create an enabling environment for investment and economic growth in Abia State.
He explained that beyond the signing of Certificates of Occupancy, his administration has continued to pursue comprehensive reforms aimed at modernising land administration processes through technology-driven initiatives.
According to him, the state government, in collaboration with development agencies and relevant stakeholders, embarked on the digitisation of land administration procedures to improve transparency, accountability, efficiency, and ease of verification of property records across the state.
Governor Otti further revealed that the government has commenced the scanning and digitisation of land records and survey documents as part of efforts to establish a centralised digital system capable of verifying land ownership and confirming the authenticity of documents presented by property owners and prospective investors.
The Governor emphasized that the initiative would not only reduce cases of land fraud and document forgery but would also simplify property verification processes for individuals, businesses, and investors seeking to acquire land or establish investments in the state.
“The good idea is to have everything scanned into the system. At the click of a button, you can search and know whether the document you have is original or fake,” he stated.
The development is expected to further strengthen investor confidence in Abia State, especially as the government intensifies efforts to build a transparent, efficient, and technology-driven system that aligns with global best practices in land administration and urban development.