Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai has signed the
first set of digital Certificates of Occupancy produced by the state’s new
electronic land registry. This follows the creation of the Kaduna Geographic
Information Service (KADGIS), an agency backed by legislation. The governor
also inspected the facilities of KADGIS, and commended the efforts being made to
digitise the land archive.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, El-Rufai said that the
government is making the process of securing title easier and more
user-friendly for citizens. He explained that the by digitising land titles,
the state is ensuring the integrity of title documents. The governor invited
residents of the state to use the services of KADGIS, and obtain title
documents that are valid and secure.
As FCT minister from 2003 to 2007, El-Rufai established the
first electronic land registry in Nigeria. He was expected to replicate that
feat in Kaduna as part of the process of restoring the state as a modern,
rule-based state. KADGIS is expected to vastly increase the registration of
land titles in the state, where most properties do not have Certificates of
Occupancy. As a major capital project of the current government, KADGIS is also
expected to make a significant contribution to improving internally generated
revenue (IGR) in the state.
KADGIS replaced the former Ministry of Lands, Survey and
Country Planning. The law establishing KADGIS was passed by the Kaduna State
House of Assembly following an executive bill. KADGIS was established to create
an electronic land registry and to facilitate the registration of land
documents in the state.
While presenting the KADGIS bill, El-Rufai said that “KADGIS
is a one-stop shop for all land matters. It is intended to make life easier for
citizens in securing title for their land holdings, and to use such titles as
valid collateral.
"The simpler processes and modern products KADGIS will
provide will also encourage investors and create clarity about who owns what,
speed up land transactions and contribute to the government’s quest to make
Kaduna State a more favorable place to do business.”
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