By Eunice Orike
Minister of the federal capital territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, has made a significant impact in his first year in office, signing a total of 5,481 Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) as of December 31st 2024.
This achievement is notable, considering it’s 2,919 less than the total number of C-of-O printed and signed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA, over the past 13 years.
The Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, revealed that land allottees can now obtain their C-of-O within two weeks of making necessary payments. This improved turnaround time is a significant departure from the past, where allottees would wait for years after payment.
Olayinka attributed the enhanced efficiency to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.
He also noted that uploading necessary information, which previously took months, is now completed within 72 hours.
To put this achievement into perspective, here’s a breakdown of C-of-O production and signing in the FCT over the last 15 years:
– *May 2010 to May 2015*: 5,655 C-of-O
– *May 2015 to May 2019*: 1,174 C-of-O
– *May 2019 to May 2023*: 1,571 C-of-O
– *May 2023 to December 31, 2024*: 5,481 C-of-O
In the coming weeks, land allottees with ready C-of-O will start receiving auto-generated SMS notifications, ensuring they’re informed and can collect their title documents promptly.
Olayinka further explained that the FCT Minister has been working tirelessly to ensure that land allottees get their title documents without delay, adding that the Minister’s commitment to transparency and accountability has helped in reducing the bottlenecks that used to hinder the process.
He also revealed that the FCTA has been able to clear the backlog of C-of-O applications, which had been pending for several years, adding that the Administration is now focused on ensuring that new applications are processed and completed within the shortest possible time.
