By Our Reporter
In a major move to improve the ease of doing business and land administration in Cross River State, Governor Bassey Edet Otu has announced the full digitalization and fast-tracking of the Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) issuance process.
Governor Otu made this achievement public on Monday 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, marks a significant shift from analogue to fully digital processing, enabling transparency and faster delivery times.
The Director-General of the Cross River State Demographic Commission, Williams Archibong, praised the Governor for creating a conducive environment to deliver on this promise.
“With the new system, C-of-O for government land will now be issued within 21 days, and within 42 days for private land, ” Archibong stated. “This is a major departure from the past administration, where analogue systems led to delays and frequent errors. Now, everything is digitized and streamlined.”
Also speaking at the event, Ms. Akinlabi Ajoke, CEO of Nugi Technologies Nigeria Ltd, described the rollout as a dream come true for the company and its partners in the Land Cluster.
“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,” Ajoke said.
The Commissioner for Lands, Dr. Ekpenyong, described the issuance of C-of-Os as a long-overdue liberation for Cross Riverians who had been marginalized 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, Surv. 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,” he said, urging citizens to take advantage of the new system.
As part of the unveiling, Governor Otu personally presented Certificates of Occupancy to some landlords and businesses, including *Sterling Bank Plc*, *Prof. Victor Okon Ansa*, as well as *Mainland Oil and Gas Company Ltd*.
Speaking on behalf of other recipients, Prof. Victor Ansa said he 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.”
With the new system in place, the Otu-led administration is taking a bold step to create a more investor-friendly environment and ensure that property ownership processes are faster, more secure, and fully transparent.
