Lagosians To Process CofO, Survey, Other Building Documents Online by 2021 Says Sanwo-Olu

 AgegePulse Magazine

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Beginning from first quarter of 2021, all land related transactions in Lagos State will be undertaken online, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed on Wednesday.

The plan, the governor said, was to further accelerate the process of getting approvals on land matters and create an enduring business-driven property development market in the State.

Sanwo-Olu made the disclosure at the maiden Real Estate Marketplace Conference and Exhibitions organised by Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), with the theme: “Unearthing real opportunities in Real Estate.”

The governor said the State’s Department of Lands had built the required capacity for smooth transition to the online platform, stressing that the plan was already in its final stage.

When the web-based platform is finally launched, there will be no need for applicants seeking for Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), survey and building plan approvals to physically submit paper documents for authorisation. All documentation and payments will be done by applicants from the comfort of their homes.

Sanwo-Olu said the new development would bring about quick turnaround time in land transactions and boost private investors’ confidence in provision of home ownership model that will address deficits in housing.

He said: “We have improved on our GIS solution to accelerating land matters in Lagos. From the first quarter of next year, we will be launching an online platform on which all land transactions will be done. When the project kick-starts next year, there will be one-stop shop for all transactions relating to land, including Governor’s approval on CofO, and building approval by Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

“We have given our commitment on this, because of the need to improve the turnaround time from when people submit their requests for approval and the time the authorisation is completed. We cannot afford to disappoint private investors and applicants seeking real time approval. We are raising our capacity, so that we can respond to the requests and discharge them.”

The governor charged residents and property developers applying for approvals to stop cutting corners and circumventing the process, stressing that sharp practices would only make it difficult for impatient applicants to get their documents approved.

Real Estate: The Era of Fraudulent Act's Gone in Lagos, Says Toke Benson, SA on Housing

...As LASRERA Launches, Website, Payment Portal

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka has assured the residents of Lagos home and abroad that the era of fraudulent activities of Real Estate and Developers has gone in Lagos.

Token Benson stated this during the launching of the angency website: www.lasrera.com and payment portal at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, she said that the website became imperative so as to create, capture and update a Unified Central Database of Real Estate Practitioners and their activities within the State.

She said, “We are well aware of the trend of fraudulent practices of some Real Estate Agents and Property Developers; this is reflected in the complaints received by the Agency in recent times from residents who had fallen victims to fake Real Estate Practitioners and Property Developers while seeking for accommodation, purchase or sale of property, hence the need to have a comprehensive database that can be used to curb these fraudulent practices in the sector”.



The Special Adviser emphasised the vital need to sanitise the industry because Lagos is the commercial and economic nerve centre of Nigeria and Africa with lots of investments opportunities, adding that the State Government had also worked tirelessly over the years to curb the increasing fraudulent practices in the Real Estate sector.

She noted noted that the public presentation will assist in creating awareness and also educate residents of the State on the importance of patronising registered Real Estate Practitioners and Property Developers.

Speaking on the change of name from Lagos State Real Estate Transaction Department to Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), she stated that the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, in a bid to transform Lagos into a 21st Century Economy as enshrined in the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, approved the transition of the Department to an Agency on 7th February 2020.

According to her, part of the mandate of the new office includes the preparation of rules and regulations for the practice of Estate Agency and other connected matters in the State; identification of persons eligible to be licensed as Estate Agents and Renewal of Annual Licenses; Sanction of unlicensed Estate Agency Practitioners in the State, as well as the investigation of complaints and petitions against Licensed Estate Agency Practitioners, amongst others.

Benson-Awoyinka reiterated that the event complements the Smart City initiative of the present government, where service delivery will be technology-driven and readily available to the masses.

“We remain committed to providing an enabling environment and transparent Real Estate sector conforming to international best practices while safeguarding the ultimate interest of all the stakeholders. As a government, we have provided the creation of an innovative and sustainable environment to promote Lagos as a Real Investment destination in Africa and the World”, she said.

The Special Adviser averred that the website www.lasrera.com houses a brief history of the agency’s initiatives, aims and objectives, commitment to the people, a complaint section and a registration portal which allows practitioners to upload documents, stressing that the Agency also has social media handles for effective management and communication amongst the stakeholders.