The Edo State Government, on Tuesday, flagged off the distribution of building plans and conveyance letters to applicants whose applications were processed within the last 10 days.
Officials of the Ministries of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Environment and Sustainability, Infrastructure, Justice and the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), as well as surveyors, town planners, and other professional bodies, were all present at the flag-off, at the Government House, Benin City.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Isoken Omo said the development is part of Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government’s efforts at embracing e-governance.
According to him, “This new trend of doing things is to introduce us to electronics records; the new plan shows what the master plan is. For us to approve your plan, it means that the land used and the structure is within the master plan.
“The approved Conveyance Letter stipulates what you should do and not do and consequences against it. The Conveyance Letter gives you terms and conditions like the Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O).
“It directs you on all that is needed to do while developing your properties, so you can’t be a problem to other neighbors as failure to follow it will lead to dire consequences. This document can’t be faked and it’s cheaper to get it as it comes with a seal.”
Omo said the benefits are huge as it gives more credibility to the buildings, adding, “These documents are security documents. Approvals are made easier. They will help us keep records of the approvals that we have given out in the state.
“Also, it will help the state in planning. Both documents will be ready in 10 working days, provided the person applying submits all the requirements which are in the public domain. We will intensify our enlightenment for people to be well informed about the process.”
Some applicants who received their building plans and conveyance letters to flag off the new phase of processing the documents include Mr. Osagie Igbinosun, Faith Oghosa and Mr. Idemudia Michael.
Osagie Igbinosun commended the state government for the innovation, which he noted will go a long way in sanitizing the system and stopping building collapse in the state.
