Valuer Faults Process For Obtain Of C of Os

An estate surveyor
and Valuer in Port Harcourt, Mr Hycienth Oseji, has described the process of obtaining  Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) in Rivers State as cumbersome.
Speaking in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, Oseji noted that one major challenge in the housing sector in the State was the process of obtaining C of Os, adding that the requirement, process and cost were very high.
According to him, most property in Port Harcourt do not have registered titles, but Deed of Conveyance using the Land Use Act that came into existence in 1978.
He said that property that have registerable titles are mostly in government areas like D/Line, Old Township, GRA, Elekahia Housing Estate and Rumuibekwe area among other  places.
As a way forward, Oseji posited that the process of registering titles should be  simplified and made affordable, adding, “the Commissioner for Land should be empowered to sign deed of mortgages and deed of assignment, instead of going through the Ministry of Justice”.
According to him, this will remove  administrative bottle-necks and make the process faster, stating that government should carry out an enlightenment campaign on the need to obtain registration of property for title documents.
Oseji also urged government to provide funds as well as encourage people to contribute to the pool for social housing and also sell them at low rate.

Corlins Walter