Abia Records Over 100 Per Cent Increase In Issuance Of CofO Under Otti’s Administration
Abia State issued a record 1,037 Certificates of Occupancy in 2024, driven by Governor Alex Otti’s reforms, faster processing, and automation, with projections of over 2,000 CofOs by 2025.
Fresh data from the Abia State Ministry of Lands and Housing has shown that the state government issued 1,037 Certificates of Occupancy (CofOs) to property owners in 2024, the highest number recorded in the past 13 years.
The data covers the period from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2024. According to the figures, the lowest issuance was in 2020, when only 214 CofOs were processed. The second-highest issuance came in 2016 with 526 CofOs, followed by 2015 with 500.
A Certificate of Occupancy is an official government document, typically signed by a state governor, authenticating ownership of a property. It enables property owners to sell, mortgage, or use their property for other transactions. In many states across Nigeria, delayed issuance of CofOs has slowed business transactions and frustrated investors.
Of the 1,037 CofOs issued by the Abia State Government in 2024:
- 743 went to men
- 83 to women
- 81 to joint owners
- 130 to other categories
Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Chaka Chukwumerije, attributed the sharp rise in CofO issuance to reforms introduced under Governor Alex Otti, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, as Abia’s fifth elected governor.
“Abia delivers CofO in 30 days. It’s a policy,” Chukwumerije said during a media briefing. “There is enhanced transparency, accountability, and focus on service delivery. Your transaction is monitored from the time it comes in until it goes. If people know they can get their CofO seamlessly without middlemen, they are encouraged to apply.”
He added that Governor Otti signs CofOs within 24 hours of submission, using an automated electronic signature. “In September alone, the governor has signed over 350 CofOs. By the end of 2025, we may be hitting over 2,000 CofOs,” he disclosed.
Chukwumerije explained that the Ministry of Lands has introduced a one-stop customer service center, eliminating the need for applicants to move between different offices. Banks, tax offices, and surveyors are now housed under one roof, allowing applicants to complete all processes in a single day.
He also revealed that Abia’s land governance system is still being automated. When the process is fully completed, and new residential and industrial estates are rolled out, the volume of CofOs issued is expected to rise significantly.
“These reforms have restored confidence in the system and positioned Abia as a model for transparent land administration in Nigeria,” the commissioner said.
