Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has announced plans to transition to electronic signing of Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O), the last document he still signs manually as the state’s chief executive.

Speaking with journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Obaseki reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to a completely paperless governance system.

Governor Obaseki highlighted the state’s embrace of technology through its e-governance system, which has led to the archiving of seven million government documents. This digital transformation has streamlined government operations, ensuring accountability, transparency, effectiveness, efficiency, and swift service delivery to the people of Edo.

Obaseki mentioned that the state has already started issuing computerized C-of-Os to property owners and is now ready to implement electronic signing of these documents to further enhance efficiency and transparency in land administration.

We have made substantial development in our land administration system through our nuanced reforms. Very soon, I will begin to sign our C-of-Os digitally. They are the only documents I sign now.

Under the Obaseki-led administration, significant reforms have been undertaken to streamline land registration and management, using advanced technology. These efforts have resulted in the approval and issuance of over 30,000 C-of-Os in the past seven and a half years, showcasing the administration’s dedication to improving land administration in Edo State.