By Eben Enasco
Civil Rights Activists in Edo State say they are apprehensive over the delays in obtaining a certificate of occupancy as a legal document that gives the holder certain land rights.
The leader of the Talakawa Parliament, Marxist Kola Edokpayi whose group is Challenging the issuers, the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS), believes that the burden occasioned by the delay is raising concerns among members of the society.
Comrade Edokpayi had argued that a series of letters sent by them requesting the agency and Governor Godwin Obaseki to address some of the complaints were acknowledged, but, were never attended to, thereby, putting the state Governor in bad light before the people.
He noted that most complaints and documents submitted belong to Nigerian communities who are overseas and are willing to invest their hard-earned income in securing their landed property through obtaining the Certificate of Occupancy but are made to face brick walls.
The rights activist called for the immediate removal of the MD, EDOGIS by the State Governor as part of efforts to address the situation.
Our Correspondent reports that the allegations were, however, denied by the Managing Director of the State-owned Agency, Grace Osaro-Aihie.
Osaro-Aihie said most agitators are middlemen who have forged tax clearance certificates and have not been cleared over their shortfall on basic requirements for obtaining Certificates of Occupancy, C of O.
She questioned the rationale behind her call out by the pressure group, adding that, her priority is to raise revenue for the state through attending and signing of those who have complete documents as stipulated for the issuance of the C of O.
While urging the diasporans to verify the amount of money sent to middlemen for obtaining the C of Os, she explained that the agency has now opened an online platform for easy access and compliance to reduce fraudulent activities.
According to the law, the purpose of obtaining a certificate of occupancy is to establish that the house or building is in a livable condition.
