…Launches Online Property Search platform

…urges residents to key into initiative

The Oyo State Government on Monday, revealed that through existing technological supports, it has digitalised a total of 438, 091 Property cards for public access.

This was revealed during the launch of online property title search platform by the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde in Ibadan.

Speaking during the launch, held at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, the Governor, described the platform as a profound accomplishment that marks a significant milestone in his administration’s journey towards a more efficient and transparent lands administration system.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Segun Ogunwuyi, the Governor said the Online Property Search platform, developed by Oyo State Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in partnership with her revenue Land consultants, Messrs PNN Limited, is a veritable tool for enhancing, transforming and digitalizing the process for property search in the State.

He said, transparency and accessibility are fundamental pillars in our pursuit of progress and development. In our Omituntun 2.0 working document, the Roadmap for Sustainable Development 2023 – 2027.

“We promised the people of this State to simplify land administration processes and further enhance the documentation of private lands. Today, with the launch of this online portal, we take a decisive step forward in simplifying the process of property acquisition and registration in Oyo State. This initiative not only aligns with our administration’s commitment to leveraging technology for public service but also underscores our dedication to ensuring that every citizen has equal access to information and resources”, he said.

The Governor said journey has been one of collaboration and determination, commending the Ministry of Lands for their tireless efforts in bringing this platform to fruition.

“Their dedication to enhancing service delivery and facilitating ease of doing business in our State is truly commendable.”

“With the Online Property Search platform, residents, investors, and stakeholders can now navigate the complexities of property transactions with ease. Whether it’s verifying land titles, checking property ownership records, or understanding zoning regulations, this platform empowers users with the tools they need to make informed decisions swiftly and securely.”

Also speaking the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Funmilayo Williams noted that the platform will enhance service delivery by transitioning from manual property search to an online system.

Mr. Funmilayo said the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has a diverse range of responsibilities, including monitoring and controlling physical development activities, formulating and implementing housing policies and programs, and designing Government site and services schemes.

The Governor added that the platform is also a testament to the Ministry’s commitment to harnessing technology to improve the lives of our citizens. It represents a new era of accessibility, convenience, and inclusivity in the property sector, empowering citizens to make informed decisions about their property choices, fostering economic growth, and enhancing our global competitiveness

He urged all stakeholders, from citizens to investors, to embrace the new era of accessibility and efficiency.

He called for efforts to ensure that the benefits of the new platform reach every corner of the State, driving prosperity and sustainable development for generations to come.

The Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, noted that the launch of the online platform marks a crucial step forward in the collective quest for innovation, transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in the realm of property ownership and transactions within the Lands sector in Oyo State.

She commended the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development for the laudable idea of embracing technology to improve service delivery to the people of Oyo State.

“The online property search feature will make the process easier, more convenient, and faster, allowing citizens to conduct property searches from anywhere in the world.”, she said.

She said the humoguous tasks of the Ministry can be more effectively and efficiently carried out with minimal challenges with the support of technologically driven innovations, such as the online property search platform.

“This aligns with the Oyo State Roadmap to Sustainable Development 2023-2027, which promises to develop programmes for making land banks available for housing development” and “widen the tax net to capture about 90% of the population who currently do not pay land use charges”, she said.

She admonished the civil servants that will drive the process is to ensure the technology driven property search being launched today is owned by them.

“They should be willing to provide regular data updates and be ready to learn”, she said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Mofoluke Adebiyi said the launch is an aftermath of a retreat for staff members of the Ministry for better service delivery.

She said the platform will foster transparency in property transactions and promote accountability, through easy access to accurate property information.

Also, the  General Manager of Private Networks Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ladigbolu Ayodeji said the platform will enable authorised individuals and organisations easy access to property information and transactional details from anywhere around the globe.

He lauded the Oyo State Government for keying into technology, adding that the platform will reduce the bureaucratic hurdles in search for property information and enhance efficiency.

The event was witnessed by key stakholders, including Estate Surveyors, representatives of Nigeria Bar  Association among others, who solicited a wider spectrum to sensitize citizens on how the platform works.

E-signed:
Prince Dotun Oyelade,
Commissioner for Information and Orientation,
Oyo State.

Oyo State Government has appointed various professionals ranging from Surveyors, Estate Officers, Land Officers and others in the junior staff category in order to improve service delivery in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

Speaking at the 1-day orientation programme held at the Conference Room of the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Mofoluke Adebiyi who stood in for Honourable Commissioner averred that the new entrants will bridge the existing gap in manpower at the Ministry and was therefore grateful to His Excellency, the Executive Governor for the appointments.

Mr. Williams A. Funmilayo stated that the essence of the orientation is also to familiarize the officers with their new work environment as according.

He therefore, intimated them with the Civil Service ethics as well as their various work schedules through the resources persons invited for the orientation program. The new appointees was further charged to be dedicated, humble and committed to their work.

Earlier the retired Survey General of the State Mr. Akintola had exposed the new entrants to the Role of Government of Surveyor in Land Administration while ESV Alh. Kunle Ogunsola, a retired Head of Local Government had also spoken on the Basic Conduct of a Land Officer.

One of the newly recruited staff, Mr. Jimoh Waliu appreciated the State Government for the opportunity and privilege given to them to serve in the Civil Service of Oyo State and equally promised on behalf of his colleagues to contribute their quota to move Oyo State forward.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Mr. William Akinlayo Funmilayo, has expressed confidence that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State will experience significant increment by the end of the year.

He disclosed this when the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, visited him in his office on a fact finding mission.

The Commissioner for Lands noted that measures are being put in place to transform Oyo State’s IGR under the present administration.

The Commissioner noted that between January and March of 2024, there has been a noticeable improvement in the rate of tax payment compared to the same period in 2023 adding that one of the key factors contributing to the outlook is the increasing compliance of residents to the payment of land use charges due to ease of payment.

Mr. Funmilayo encouraged taxpayers to download the Oyo State Property Reference Service (OYPRS) App from the Google Play Store or Apple Store as this will allow them to make seamless payments without visiting banks

He revealed further that the technical challenges in the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy have been overcome such that the documents will now be issued within 40 days instead of 60 days

He said the Ministry of Lands has made significant progress in digitizing the land management system, with 46% of the C-of-Os completed in 2023; whereas this same volume of 46% has already been met within the first quarter of 2024.

Regarding the ongoing Ibadan circular road project, Mr. Funmilayo clarified that 60 houses were demolished to clear obstructions along the road’s corridor, emphasizing the importance of this clearance is for the safety of the public. He assured that affected property owners would be compensated or relocated as necessary.

He also commended the Governor for his commitment to providing quality housing schemes, with several housing estates being developed across the State.

“To make housing more accessible to all residents, especially those in the middle and lower income brackets, Individuals interested in these housing options are encouraged to visit the Ministry of Lands for guidance” He said

The Commissioner underscored Government’s dedication to making Reserved Areas environmental friendly and sustainable thus promoting eco-friendly practices, and preserving the beauty of Oyo State for future generations.

He extolled Governor Makinde for increasing the housing loan fund for civil servants.

Oyo State Government has commenced the demolition of structures at on- going 110 kilometer circular road corridor.

The Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin Funmilayo said that the Land has been in Ibadan master plan of Government since 1978 while it was also acquired in 2016.

He noted that the existing structures within the corridor of the Circular road will be pulled down.

He said that, the circular road is in about four phases: Lagos-Ibadan, Ife- Ibadan, Ibadan-Ife and Ilorin-Ibadan adding that the road encircled Ibadan, that is why it is called Circular Road and would soon be commissioned.

According to the Lands Helmsman, the exercise is not spontaneous because residents along the corridors were notified before the commencement of the exercise.

He further explained that structures that have approved documents would be enumerated and duly compensated.

He advised people willing to buy Land to always verify the genuiness of the Land at the Ministry before buying them.

The Government of Oyo State, on Wednesday, demolished scores of structures in Ibadan, the State capital.

The demolition, which began at Fashade community, on Tuesday, along Circular Road will affect about 12 villages in the Ona-Ara Local Government Area of the State.

The affected communities are Fashade; Aba Osho; Igbalefa; Adigbe; Badeku; Akamo; Alase; Ojoku; Dare; Isase; Oleke Meji as well as Ogido, all within the Local Government Area.

A community leader in one of the affected areas, Abdulfatal Amubikan, told our The Punch Correspondent, who visited the area, on Wednesday, that “about 500 houses had been demolished.”

This exercise came to us as a surprise. The Governor had, during our peaceful protest to the Secretariat in January, promised that our houses would not be demolished. I was privileged to speak on behalf of others when we went there. We told him about what was posted on our houses by the Ministry of Lands.

“And first, the Governor promised that our houses would not be demolished, that we should go back to our various homes. Secondly, he promised to talk to the Commissioner for Lands and get back in three months. That we should just give him (Makinde) three months to work on it, but we should rest assured that the Government will not demolish our houses. The Government did not wait till three months (April) before it started demolishing our houses.

“We expected that three months to lapse by next month (April) to meet the Governor again about his promise. He also promised that the Government would compensate affected residents, and since yesterday (Tuesday) till today (Wednesday), about 500 houses have been demolished. And it is still an ongoing exercise”, he lamented.

Another victim, Usman Ikram, said, “I was not at home when the exercise began. It was one of our neighbours who called me that the Government had started demolishing my house. It was a bad experience I never either prayed for or expected in my life. I was crying within myself. Though, I still thank God because He knows everything.

Oyo State Government has re-opened some access roads to existing Government Reservations Areas (GRAs) within Ibadan Metropolis.

The Commissioner for Lands Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, on Friday, said this is to ease the hardship land owners face in such GRAs which includes Omololu Olunloyo Ring Road, Ogun Osun River Basin, Aba igbira, Galilee Foundation, Elenusonso and NIHORT.

According to him, some portions of the affected GRAs at Ogun-Osun River Basin are Government Acquisitions which were only leased with TOL (Temporary Occupation License), prior to the advent of the present administration, adding that it has been designed into Layout as GRA’s.

He added that some of the allottees did not have access to their lands due to non availability of access roads and the nefarious activities of some land grabbers.

Mr. Akin-Funmilayo however promised that the exercise would provide necessary access to rightful owners of land to develop their portions of the lands.

The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, today called on members of staff to be alive to their responsibilities in the new year.

He said this during an interfaith prayer session, held at the Ministry to usher in the new year.

The Commissioner appreciated all members of staff for their cooperation in year 2023, imploring them to continue in the same manner for a positive change.

He stressed the need for them to work diligently to complement the efforts of the Oyo State Government.

According to him, ‘our challenges is to meet our targets for the year 2024, hence, we have to work hand in hand so as to meet more than the targets because last year, our achievement through our efficiency provided us with a legal practitioner to the Ministry while our improved productivity between July and December 2023 has brought about many fortune to the Ministry such as Legal Adviser to the Ministry and Approval of appointment which will be done basically on hardwork, efficiency and productivity.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Mofoluke Adebiyi emphasized the need for workers and the management to work in synergy as this administration continues while she also implored the staff to ensure clean environment as cleanliness is next to godliness.

A member of staff, Mr. Oladiran Olutayo Abiodun on behalf of other staffers, promised to uphold the legacy being put in place by the Commissioner and his team.

Oyo State Government has described as rumours, the report making rounds that it has allocated Agodi Botanical Gardens to a proposed Housing Estate, stating it is baseless and untrue.

Mr. Williams Akin Funmilayo, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, said that mischief makers are trying to bring the State Government into an unnecessary distraction and nullify the laudable achievements recorded so far.

He disclosed further that the Government values reforestation and afforestation, and as such, would not convert Agodi gardens into a residential Estate.

He added that the large expanse of land to be converted to Baywood Estate does not include the Agodi Botanical Gardens.

The Commissioner also said the State Government has plans to upgrade the garden to an international standard, such that it will compete with other botanical gardens across the globe.

Therefore, Akin- Funmilayo re-echoed that the Governor did not give any order to his office for the conversion of Agodi Gardens to Housing Estate.

He recalled that the Agodi Botanical Gardens was created in the year 1967, but was destroyed by the Ogunpa flood disaster in 1980 by the raging water but got renovated in 2012 and reopened in 2014 as a tourist attraction in the ancient city of Ibadan.

He therefore said the garden is a lasting legacy, which the present administration will never joke with, adding that the Seyi Makinde led administration will not leave any stone unturned in making Oyo State an habitable place for all.

The Commissioner implored the general public to disregard any rumor on the sales of Agodi Gardens, assuring that the proposed Baywood Estate by Government will not encroach into Agodi Gardens.

“The reason why Government is intending to convert the forest to Housing Estate is to make the place more secure, as the place is a death zone that serves as harbour to many criminals where many innocent lives have been lost”, he said.

He also said, “Anybody that is in doubt of what the Government wants to do around that corridor should come to the Ministry for further clarifications.”

“We therefore call on the public to disregard any information related to the conversion of Agodi Botanical Gardens to an estate, as the Government is determined to protect public places in the best interest of its citizens and residents of the State”.

The Oyo State Government has described rumours making rounds that it has allocated Agodi Botanical Gardens to a proposed Housing Estate, as baseless and untrue.

The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin Funmilayo said that mischief makers are trying to bring the State Government into an unnecessary distraction and nullify the laudable
achievements recorded so far.

He disclosed further that the Government values reforestation and afforestation, and as such, would not convert Agodi gardens into a residential Estate.

He added that the large expanse of land to be converted to Baywood Estate does not include the Agodi Botanical Gardens.

The Commissioner also said the State Government has plans to upgrade the garden to an international standard, such that it will compete with other botanical gardens across the globe.

Therefore, Akin- Funmilayo re-echoed that the Governor did not give any order to his office for the conversion of Agodi Gardens to Housing Estate.

He recalled that the Agodi Botanical Gardens was created in the year 1967, but was destroyed by the Ogunpa flood disaster in 1980 by the raging water but got renovated in 2012 and reopened in 2014 as a tourist attraction in the ancient city of Ibadan.

He therefore said the garden is a lasting legacy, which the present administration will never joke with, adding that the Seyi Makinde led administration will not leave any stone unturned in making Oyo State an habitable place for all.

The Commissioner implored the general public to disregard any rumor on the sales of Agodi Gardens, assuring that the proposed Baywood Estate by Government will not encroach into Agodi Gardens.

“The reason why Government is intending to convert the forest to Housing Estate is to make the place more secure, as the place is a death zone that serves as harbour to many criminals where many innocent lives have been lost”, he said.

He also said, “Anybody that is in doubt of what the Government wants to do around that corridor should come to the Ministry for further clarifications.”

“We therefore call on the public to disregard any information related to the conversion of Agodi Botanical Gardens to an estate, as the Government is determined to protect public places in the best interest of its citizens and residents of the State”.