*New GRA coming along Lagos/Ibadan, Ibadan/Oyo Expressways
The Oyo State Government has said issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) will now be processed under 60 days if proper documents are submitted by land owners in the state.
The State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Isaac Omodewu, stated this during the Inter-Ministerial briefing recently held at the Ministry of Information Mini Theatre, saying the era of infinite processing period for C of O was a thing of the past.
Omodewu explained that the government had put the necessary measures in place to facilitate quick process and issuance of (C of O) if land owners submit proper documents, stressing that the government was disturbed by the endless waiting period and the patronage of agents by land owners who wanted to collect their C of O.
He urged members of the public to desist from patronizing agents for any transaction whatsoever, adding that the government is running an open door policy to facilitate the smooth process and issuance of C of O for interested publics and consequently called on fuel stations in the state that have not been approved by the government to get proper approval at the ministry as illegal fuel station would be demolished.
Omodewu further said the State Government is set to increase Internally Generated Revenue IGR through landed properties, pointing out that the government has created a new Government Reserved Area (GRA) behind the High Court, Ring Road and that more GRAs are still coming up in Oyo/Ibadan Expressway as well as Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
He further said individuals, corporate bodies as well as groups, foreign and local investors interested in the industrial park along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway by the state government should come to the Ministry for enquiries.
Similarly, transport unions in the state have been advised to work together in order to guide the activities of motor parks and garages to enhance revenue generation for the government and the sustenance of peace in the state.
The State Commissioner for Works and Transports, Mr. Wasiu Dauda, who said this during the stakeholders meeting with members of the transport unions, also noted that there would be a policy aimed at generating revenue on transport system and equally monitor the daily activities of the unions for the sustenance of peace and protection of lives and properties.
In his remarks highlighting the revenue modalities on how to generate funds into government coffers, the State Chairman of Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Prince Kehinde Adeyemo, stated that state government should have biometric data of all personnel at the motor parks and garages and called for proper management of annual remittance of tax by both unions for the development of the state.
Prince Adeyemo suggested that a Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) should be set up to oversee the operational framework of transport unions to ensure peaceful co-existence, saying that transport unions can also assist the government on developmental projects through constructions and maintenances of roads within and around the state.
In his own comments, the state chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde pledged the unions’ unalloyed support to the government and promised the union’s partnership with the state government in its programmes and activities.
The stakeholders meeting had in attendance the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, Eleyele, representatives of Department of State Services, NSCDC, representatives of Ministries of Work and Transport, Justice, Accountant General’s Office , Board of Internal Revenue and Executives of both the NURTW and RTEAN.
