Anambra Gives Landowners December 31 Deadline to Recertify Old C of Os
Anambra updates land title records
The Anambra State Government has given holders of old Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) until December 31, 2026, to recertify their titles and have their property records captured in the Anambra State Geographic Information System (ANAMGIS).
/ You Might Also Like /
The state Ministry of Lands said the old land administration system will be shut down indefinitely after the deadline, restricting holders of unrecertified C of Os from accessing several transactions through the ministry.
The directive was contained in a public notice dated September 1, 2026, signed by the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Nkeiru Mokwe.
Landowners Face December 31 Deadline
Under the new arrangement, holders of old C of Os are required to have their documents recertified and their records captured in ANAMGIS before they can continue accessing specified land administration services.
The affected transactions include mortgages, Deeds of Assignment, Certified True Copies of title documents and registration of Powers of Attorney, among other transactions that require processing through the Ministry of Lands.
The ministry has urged affected titleholders who have not started the process to submit their applications before the deadline rather than wait until the final weeks of the exercise.
Old C of O Will Not Automatically Become Invalid
The December 31 deadline does not mean that an old Certificate of Occupancy automatically becomes invalid or that ownership is automatically cancelled after the date.
Rather, the immediate consequence identified in the ministry's notice is restricted access to specified land transactions under the old land administration system.
This distinction is significant for property owners and investors.
A landowner may continue to hold an existing property interest, but an unrecertified title could create difficulties when the owner wants to mortgage the property, transfer ownership, obtain a Certified True Copy or complete another transaction requiring processing by the Ministry of Lands.
ANAMGIS Becomes Central to Land Administration
The recertification exercise forms part of Anambra's transition towards a digital land administration system.
By capturing existing title records in ANAMGIS, the state is seeking to move away from its previous system and consolidate property information within a geographic information database.
For the property market, a comprehensive digital land database can have implications for title verification, transaction processing, land administration and property records.
Reliable and accessible land information is also relevant to investors and financial institutions assessing properties for acquisition or as collateral.
Implications for Property Transactions and Mortgages
The recertification requirement could be particularly important for property owners planning to sell, transfer or finance their assets.
For example, a property owner seeking mortgage finance may need to provide title documentation that can be processed and verified through the relevant land administration system. Similarly, buyers and investors typically require title documentation and searches as part of their due diligence before completing transactions.
Restrictions on access to these services could therefore affect the speed and ease with which affected properties can be transacted.
For developers, title documentation is also an important part of project preparation because uncertainty around land ownership or the ability to transfer and register interests can complicate financing and development.
Land Titling Remains Important to Property Investment
The Anambra exercise highlights the broader role of land administration in the development of Nigeria's formal property market.
A functioning land registration system provides a framework for documenting ownership and interests in property. It can also support transactions, mortgage creation, property valuation and investment decisions.
For government, digital land records can improve access to information and strengthen the administration of land-related processes. For investors and property owners, the value lies partly in having title records that can be verified and used for legitimate transactions.
The transition also underscores the importance of keeping property documentation current rather than treating a Certificate of Occupancy as a document that requires no further administrative attention.
What Anambra Landowners Need to Know
Landowners holding old C of Os in Anambra have until December 31, 2026, to complete the recertification process and have their records captured in ANAMGIS.
After the old system is shut down, holders of titles that have not been recertified will face restrictions on transactions such as mortgages, Deeds of Assignment, Certified True Copies and registration of Powers of Attorney through the Ministry of Lands.
The deadline therefore represents a land-record migration requirement rather than an automatic cancellation of existing C of Os.
Outlook
Anambra's recertification exercise reflects the growing push towards digital land administration and more structured property records in Nigeria.
For the state's property market, the effectiveness of the transition will depend not only on landowners completing recertification but also on how efficiently the new system processes applications, maintains accurate records and supports transactions.
For investors, developers and existing property owners, the December 31 deadline makes title verification and regularisation an increasingly important part of property management and investment planning in Anambra.
READ MORE
