ANAMBRA TO COMPUTERIZE ITS LANDS APPLICATION SYSTEM….. COMMISSIONER REVEALS

Awka Obiorah Anthony Ugwonwa

Plans are on top gear to computerize lands application system of Anambra State on or before the end of this year through Global Information System(GIS) by the Ministry of Lands and Survey in the State.

This was made known yesterday by Anambra State Commissioner for Lands and Survey Professor Ofonze Umucheazi, during press interview in his office at Anambra State House Awka.

He said the project when completed that most of the activities of the Mministry would be conducted through computer system where the people could load the forms for their Certificate of Occupants(C/O) online, pay online and down load the forms online seamlessly.

He assured the people that the forms which are now sales at five thousand naira by the Ministry may eventually become free when they finished the computerization exercise of their activities and debunked the rumour making round the State and elsewhere that the Military Sales the forms for the acquisition of the C/O at two hundred thousand naira, describing such allegation as untrue.

While describing the Ministry of Land as a brand new one now , the Commissioner, said that Solution’s Government has came to the Ministry with different agenda to enthrone efficienency, effectiveness and level lands acquisition in Anambra State through open door policy.

On the issue of the rates of Certificate of Occupants in Anambra State, the Commissioner,said that the fact remains that they are still using the rates they met when they came on board , saying that they have different rates for both private and Government (C/Os) for different layouts in the State.

The Commissioner, who stated that the rates are applicable to each layout, noted that the rates they are using now had been there for eighteen years during the periods of former Governor Willie Obiano and Peter Obi respectively.

He made it very clear that the money one pays for a plot of land allocated at Awka GRA for Certificate of Occupants must cost more than a plot of land allocated at Agu- Awka and Millennium layouts because of their different locations.

According to him, the people are expected to pay one hundred and fifty thousand naira at flat rate for stamp duty, two hundred and fifty thousand naira tax , one hundred thousand naira, five hundred and forty thousand naira and five hundred and twenty -six thousand naira respectively as premium for the private Certificate of Occupants per a plot of land which he said depends on the area of the allocation.

He said that those whose plot of lands are more would actually pay more, pointing out that the private (C/O) is expected to come out within seven to eight days once the person has done everything expected of him while that of Government Certificate of Occupants last for thirty days to come out due the the Governor’s tight schedules.

The Professor, who opined that Anambra State has the best rates available in the South-East Zone of Nigeria, maintained that, that of Delta State may be lower while according him that of Enugu State is far above high than that of Anambra State.

He further added that the rates of (C/O) was not the reasons why Ndi-Anambra move to Delta State or Enugu to build their house or houses and blame such attitude of our people to individual choice.

He attributed the acute scarcity of housing in Awka and environs to a situation where the people get a parcel of land and allocation in a place which the regarded as estate, but not real estate, fence the land disappear, coupled with the exponentially cost of building materials in Nigeria today.

Professor Ofonze, who spoke among other things, blamed the delay in processing of the Certificate of the Occupants in the Anambra State on situation where the people’s survey plans are inaccurate, a situation where the really owners of the Certificate of Occupants delegate someone to do the whole job for them and above all the people’s impertinence among others.

He vehemently frowned at a situation were some people in the Ministry flicks around the people who are coming to the Ministry for their (C/O) and other transactions for their individual gains and advised the general public to call the following phone lines for proper information and direction. 08033130942,07073617757.

Others according to him are, 08139129861 or 09042848606,07043984304 and 08105034193.