The much anticipated transition to electronic Certificate of Occupancy by the Lagos State Government, which was initially scheduled to begin this month, will now commence in the first quarter of 2012.

Our correspondent gathered that a test run of the new scheme had revealed some inherent challenges that might frustrate its smooth takeoff.

For instance, it was gathered that the technology being used for the new e-C of O had returned errors far above the permissible margin on most of the existing survey plans fed into it.

As a result, the government through the Lands Bureau decided to tarry awhile and do additional work to make it perfect.

The Director of Land Regularisation, Mr. Bode Agoro, who confirmed the development in an interview with our correspondent on Friday, said “The new e-C of O will not be available this month as earlier scheduled because the technology being used for it has shown that majority of the existing survey plans are not within the permissible error margin.

“It will finally commence anytime in the first quarter of 2012. By that time, we would have put everything in order.”

Agoro had earlier explained that the scheme would start as a pilot in Ogudu GRA and Omole Estate, after which the real process would begin all over the state.

The first stage of the project, according to him, will involve the exchange of about 70,000 manual C of Os in existence in the state since 1978 for the new A4 size security paper.

Source: Punch/Ronke Badmus