From Moshood Karim
The Edo State Government has recorded a significant milestone in land administration, with over 9,000 Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) registered across the State between February and 17 April 2025, despite reported sabotage by former consultants.
The achievement was disclosed by the Managing Director of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), Mr Tony Ikpasaja, during a courtesy visit by the executive members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at his office in Benin City.
Mr Ikpasaja, who was appointed by Governor Monday Okpebholo in January 2025, credited the breakthrough to the deployment of a new software system and a holistic restructuring of the agency, which he said has transitioned EdoGIS operations to meet international standards, in line with World Bank best practices.
“The kind of restructuring we did was a total departure from what it used to be,” Mr Ikpasaja said. “Our staff now operate based on international best practices. What we have today does not give room for file hoarding or unnecessary delays.”
He revealed that EdoGIS had registered more than 9,000 C-of-Os in just over two months, a dramatic improvement from the mere 1,000 certificates issued between 2023 and February 2025 under the previous administration.
This development comes despite what Ikpasaja described as an attempted sabotage of the agency’s operations by consultants hired under former Governor Godwin Obaseki. According to him, these consultants allegedly shut down the agency’s systems following the defeat of Obaseki’s party in the 21 September 2024 governorship election, which brought Governor Okpebholo to power.
“When I assumed office, I met over 7,500 unattended files from applicants who had already paid for registration,” Ikpasaja disclosed. “It was disheartening to see that so many people had fulfilled their obligations, only to have their documents left unattended. But within the next few weeks or months, we will clear the backlog and deliver the certificates to the rightful owners.”
In a bid to improve accessibility and bring land administration closer to the people, EdoGIS has also decentralised its operations by opening new offices in Auchi and Ekpoma, covering the three senatorial districts of the State.
“Our goal is to ensure that every property owner has the opportunity to legalise their assets,” Ikpasaja said. “Any land without a Certificate of Occupancy is not a legal asset, and we urge all landowners to come forward and regularise their documents.”
The EdoGIS boss assured applicants that their lands are secure once registered in the system, as no other person can process a claim on the same property. He further announced that the agency had acquired new sophisticated equipment to enhance productivity and expedite application processing.
Mr Ikpasaja emphasised the agency’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and public trust, urging residents to take advantage of the improved system to secure legal ownership of their properties.
The EdoGIS transformation is being hailed as a major step forward in strengthening land governance and property rights in Edo State.
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