- Safiu Kehinde
Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the State Geographic Information Service (LAGIS) Bill aimed at digitalizing land administration process.
The bill seeks to establish a computerised and harmonised central database for land administration processes, including building approvals and generation of Certificate of Occupancy amongst others.
This was disclosed by Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, during the LAGIS Bill Retreat held in Ikeja on Friday.
According to reports, both the executive and legislative arms of government, along with other key stakeholders, expressed unanimous support for the bill.
Babatunde explained that the Lagos State Geographic Information Service would connect all the MDAs in Lagos, making use of data to streamline processes such as building approvals.
He noted that what previously took weeks or months could now be done in minutes.
“When the LAGIS Bill becomes law, we will be able to process building approvals seamlessly. What we hitherto did in 10 days, 20 days, or three months, we will be able to do in minutes.
“The Office of Physical Planning, Office of Urban Development. Office of Surveyor-General, Land Matters and Office of Land Valuation ensured that through technology, we got to where we are today,” he said.
He also encouraged residents to take advantage of the ongoing amnesty window to get approvals for their buildings.
“The Office of Physical Planning is carrying out what is called amnesty. Under the amnesty programme, we are asking those who did not have building approval to go and get the approval.
“We cannot rest as a government. Rather than lose lives and properties, we will ensure that we do not rest until we make sure that 10 per cent of those who have building approvals in Lagos grow from 10 to 20, from 20 to 30, 30 to 50, and 50 to 100,” the SA said.
Babatunde further added that the bill, when passed into law, would support various developmental programmes, including tourism promotion, industrial development, and property valuation for taxation.
In the same vein, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Physical Planning, e-GIS and Urban Development, Mr Sylvester Ogunkelu, who represented the speaker, said that the LAGIS Bill had passed a second reading.
He assured residents that they would be the beneficiaries when the bill is passed into law.
“LAGIS Bill will enhance the processing of land certificates and ensure transparency on land processing in Lagos State.
“The bill, when it becomes law, will go through all the MDAs and the people can be in their houses to process C of O and other documents through an electronic platform,” he said.
The bill will create a comprehensive database and strengthen land administration processes in the state.