In a move to protect the residents of the state against the activities of land speculators, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Friday issued 5,000 Certificates of Occupancy to land owners across the 20 local government areas of the state.

The beneficiaries are applicants from the Ogun State Land Administration and Revenue Management System and the Home Owners Charter programme of immediate past administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

Abiodun handed over the CofOs to the beneficiaries, who included the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akanmo; Commissioner for Housing, Jagunmolu Omoniyi; an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Olukayode Ayilara; and the State Secretary of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Tiwalade Akingbade.

Speaking during the programme held in Abeokuta, Abiodun said his administration created OLARMS under the Bureau of Lands and Survey to eliminate the bottleneck in land administration and promote ease of doing business.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, said the programme was aimed at sanitising land administration, which he said had been characterised by fraudulent activities.