On Friday, 26, May 2017 at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers held its 12th Biennial Honours Night. And at that colourful event, the Lagos Lands Bureau won a prestigious award. It was honoured with The Best Government Agency Department Parastatals Company Award.
And the reason is quite understandable. Since the Ambode administration came in, 2 years ago, a lot has been done to review the administration of land in Lagos State. The Lagos Lands Bureau is being honoured because of the remarkable reforms that have taken place there over the last 2 years. And the Permanent Secretary in charge of Lands Bureau, Bode Agoro-led a powerful team of his staff to the colourful event.
For those who don’t know much about the Lagos Lands Bureau, let’s tell you a bit about it. The Lands bureau is’ made up of 6 Directorates: DLS, DLR, LUAC, Land Registry, DF&A nd DA&HR. The Bureau is going through a lot of reforms at the moment and the officials of the ministry have received tremendous support from Governor Akinwunmi Ambode revealed Bode Agoro. Some of the reforms are as follows:
*restructuring and upgrading of the Land Registry, *introduction of Quality Control Units, *Citizens Gate Portal for complaints and suggestion (it is under the office of the HOS *collapsing of work flow, *removal of admin charges, *a more robust and interactive website *redesigning of the Consent Registry with a more secure and new filing systems, no more lost or missing files. .• Introduction of a more secure 1 c, i.e passport photograph on form 1c & Deeds, *Implementation of the Property Protection Law 2016. The Lands Bureau is a member of the Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers. The Honourable Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General is the Chairman, while the Permanent Secretary, Lands is the Vice Chairman.
*A new land allocation system, both for individual allocations and private estate developers •Establishing survey Unit in Lands Bureau for mortgages, etc *Creation of a dedicated help desk for abandoned/uncompleted applications, *Quarterly Interactive Stakeholders forum, *inauguration of a Committee on illegal Extension of Government Land.
The above reforms coupled with the hard work of land officers and other members of -staff has led to a situation whereby the Governor has been able to sign 7,000 Electronic Certificates of Occupancy in 2 years and granting of Consent on 5,322 applications in 2 years. The Agency was also able to generate N20.7bn in revenue on land transactions in 2016. That is, 148% revenue performance as against N9.26bn generated in year 2015.
Lagos Lands Bureau is the agency of the State saddled with responsibility of land administration and management
with the vision of promoting equitable access to land and sustainable development of Lagos State.
Hitherto, Lagos Lands Bureau as it is today is a metamorphosis of some agencies of the State Government in the past. The merger of Ikeja Area Planning Authority (IAPA) and Epe Area Planning Authority (EAPA) led to the creation of Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB) which was mainly Urban renewal body. The defunct of LEDB led to the creation ot Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC). During the 1st civilian administration, Governor Lateef Jakande severed LSDPC of its land administration and management role to focus mainly on housing development. A body called Land Use and Allocation Committee was then created and responsible mainly for land administration and management. The transformation exercise led to the creation of Land and Housing Office (Department) which was a merger of former Lands Division and Housing Department. During the 3rd Republic housing was severed to become a full fledge ministry, while Lands remain a Bureau (Office) within the Governor’s Office till date.
The Bureau comprises of the Directorate of Land Services, Land Use & Allocation Committee, Directorate of Land Regularisation, Lands Registry, Directorate of Finance & Accounts and Directorate of Administration and Human Resources.
City People gathered that the Lagos Land Bureau is blessed with the following achievements:
- Creation of new schemes, such as Golden Jubilee Scheme, Safecourt Garden and Treasure Park.
- Automation of work processes in the Bureau to come fully on board from year 201 8 (e-processing).
- Rechristening of the former Private Developer Scheme (PDS) to Private. • Sector Developers’ Programme (PSDP) under which land is allocated to interested members of the public to increase housing stock in Lagos State and streamlining the process to make it more efficient and revenue driven.
- The ‘Very Branch’ and ESVARBON will be beneficiaries of this programme. •Execution of over 7000 electronic certificates of occupancy by the present administration. • Over =N=2.2 billion paid so far to claimants on land required for public projects in the state. • Enactment of Lagos State Property Protection Law, popularly called “Land Grabbers Law” • Compilation and use of fair market value for land and buildings in Lagos State under the guidance of NIESV. • Establishment of Survey unit in the Bureau for charting of application for mortgage transactions such that mortgage applications need not go to the OSSG. • Creation of dedicated help desk for abandoned/uncompleted applications. • Inauguration of Technical Committee on Excision of villages / settlements. • Mass employment of Estate/Land Officers in the Civil Service of the State. • Creation of quality control unit in the Directorate of Land Services. • 5,322 Governors consent applications were granted in the past 2 years. • Restructuring and Renovation of Land Registry. •Generated =N=20. 7bn revenue in year 2016. That is, 148% performance as against =N=9.26bn generated in year 2015. •Introduction of a more secure form tc, i.e passport photograph on form 1 C & Deed of Assignment or Sublease or Power of Attorney. • Inauguration of a Committee on Illegal Extention of • Government Land •The Lands Bureau is a member of the Special • Taskforce on Land Grabbers. The PS Lands is the Vice Chairman while the Hon. Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice is the Chairman.
