The Lagos State Government has expressed serious concerns over the alarming rate at which property owners in the state are neglecting to secure their Certificates of Occupancy (C of O).

This concern was raised by Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Enterprise Geographic Information System (e-GIS) and Regional Planning, during a press briefing at Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday.

According to Babatunde, the state has received only 246 applications for Certificates of Occupancy over the past six years, while 649 requests were filed for regularization. In stark contrast, 4,690 applications were submitted for land surveys during the same period.

"The low uptake of C of O applications reflects a significant lack of awareness among property owners regarding the value and legal security the document provides," Babatunde stated.

The Special Adviser also highlighted the activities of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), revealing that 8,663 property owners and developers were flagged for various building infractions within the past year.

Additionally, the agency conducted 2,232 stage inspections to ensure ongoing construction works adhered to established standards and regulatory guidelines.

A Certificate of Occupancy is a crucial document that serves as legal proof of ownership and provides security of tenure for property owners. The Lagos State Government has repeatedly emphasized its importance in preventing land disputes and facilitating property transactions.

Property experts have advised Lagos residents to prioritize obtaining their C of O to protect their investments and ensure compliance with state regulations.