The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has made a notable achievement by signing 5,481 Certificates of Occupancy (Cs of O) within a span of 16 months, from August 2023 to December 2024. This information was shared by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, in a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday.
This accomplishment significantly outpaces the efforts of previous FCT administrations. According to Olayinka, the total number of Cs of O signed by the FCT Administration in 13 years—from 2010 to 2023—was 8,400. He provided a breakdown, stating:
“From May 2010 to May 2015, a total of 5,655 C of O were produced and signed, while 1,174 were signed between 2015 and May 2019.
“Also, a total of 1,571 C of O were signed between May 2019 and May 2023.
“Meanwhile, from May 2023 when President Tinubu assumed office to December 31, 2024, a total of 5,481 C of O were signed by the FCT Minister,” he said.
One of the key changes introduced under Wike’s leadership is the expedited process for obtaining Certificates of Occupancy. Land allottees can now receive their Cs of O within two weeks of making payment, a sharp contrast to the years-long delays experienced previously.
Olayinka noted that this improvement aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which aims to enhance efficiency in governance.
Additionally, advancements have been made in information accessibility. “Sourcing information on when a C of O is collected and details of the collector that used to take months can now be done within 72 hours,” Olayinka explained.
In an effort to further streamline operations, the FCT Administration plans to notify land allottees via SMS when their Cs of O are ready for collection. This move, expected to begin in the coming weeks, aims to simplify communication and reduce delays in document collection.
