Lagos to Launch Electronic-based Land Survey Verification Scheme

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to make procurement of property documents more efficient and eliminate fraudulent activities in the housing sector through the introduction of a computer-based land survey verification system. Acting Surveyor-General of the state, Joseph Agbenla, released a statement assuring Lagosians of government’s commitment to improving land survey related issues promptly. He noted that his office is empowered with the adequate equipment such as the Geospatial Information System and Digital Maps to commence electronic-based computer survey verification system. This, he explained, would hasten the issuance of Land Information Certificates, Consent Letters and Certificate of Occupation for property owners. He added that the Lagos State Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and digital mapping would be available for use online before the end of 2014 so as to facilitate land documentation processing. The current system of land documentation, which is done by physical submission and retrieval, is inefficient and increases the time spent in procuring documents such as Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). Agbenla noted that his objective is to integrate data from the land registry, land information systems and GIS so as to have a registry with factual and up-to-date information. “At the punch of a button we will have the characteristics of all land in Lagos State.” He said very soon, the GIS system would be operational, explaining that the takeoff was delayed by some logistics “beyond anybody’s control. It has been uploaded and everything is set. It is just some gray areas that are being fashioned out now. “This will be the control area from which everybody will access it from outside through the web. We have the officers on ground to manage all resources the public will need. Once you pay by using the card system, you will have access to the web page.” Agbenla explained further that the new system is designed to protect property buyers from purchasing government-owned properties in addition to it exposing fraudulent and quacks who attempt to swindle unsuspecting home-buyers.