The Anambra State government has announced a December 31 deadline for landowners to recertify their old Certificates of Occupancy. According to the Anambra State Ministry of Lands, the recertification exercise aims to update existing land records and integrate them into the state's current digital land administration system. Landowners who fail to recertify their documents by the deadline will no longer be able to access certain land transactions through the Ministry of Lands.
The Ministry of Lands disclosed this information in a public notice dated September 1, signed by its Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Nkeiru Mokwe. The notice stated that the old land administration system will be shut down indefinitely after the deadline, affecting transactions such as mortgages, Deeds of Assignment, and Certified True Copies. Only titleholders whose records have been updated and integrated into the Anambra State Geographic Information System (ANAMGIS) database will be permitted to conduct transactions under the new system.
The recertification exercise is ongoing, and the ministry has urged titleholders who have not started the process to submit their applications without delay. Holders of old Certificates of Occupancy must have their documents recertified and captured in the ANAMGIS database to continue accessing the affected services. The ministry advised landowners to complete the process ahead of the deadline to protect their property interests and avoid difficulties accessing land administration services.
The affected transactions include mortgages, Deeds of Assignment, Certified True Copies, Irrevocable Powers of Attorney, and other transactions requiring processing through the Ministry of Lands. The restriction applies to transactions requiring processing through the Ministry of Lands under the old system. Landowners therefore face a deadline for updating their records rather than an automatic cancellation of their existing Certificates of Occupancy.
The recertification exercise comes against the backdrop of broader efforts to formalize land ownership in Nigeria and unlock property that cannot easily participate in the formal economy due to inadequate documentation. The exercise is focused on recertifying existing Certificates of Occupancy and capturing the records in the ANAMGIS database. Titleholders who do not complete the process will be unable to access the specified transactions through the Ministry of Lands after the old system is shut down.
The notice does not state that an old Certificate of Occupancy automatically becomes invalid after December 31. However, landowners who hold old Certificates of Occupancy and have not commenced the recertification process are expected to submit their applications before the deadline. The ministry emphasized that the recertification exercise is intended to update existing land records and integrate them into the state's current digital land administration system.
The Anambra State government's move to recertify old Certificates of Occupancy is part of efforts to improve land administration and revenue generation in the state. Landowners are advised to take advantage of the recertification exercise to regularize their land documents and avoid potential losses. The deadline for recertification is December 31, 2026.
Key points
- Anambra State sets December 31 deadline for landowners to recertify old Certificates of Occupancy
- The recertification exercise aims to update existing land records and integrate them into the state's current digital land administration system
- Landowners who fail to recertify their documents by the deadline will no longer be able to access certain land transactions through the Ministry of Lands
