Anambra State Government has dropped a bombshell for property owners: you have until December 31, 2026, to get your old Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) sorted. If you miss this date, prepare for roadblocks when it comes to crucial land dealings.
The State Ministry of Lands dropped this notice on September 1st, and it’s signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Nkeiru Mokwe. According to them, the old system for handling land documents is going offline for good after the deadline. This means if your C of O isn't recertified and updated in the Anambra State Geographic Information System (ANAMGIS) database, you'll be locked out of services. We're talking about things like getting mortgages, registering Deeds of Assignment, obtaining Certified True Copies (CTCs), or even processing Irrevocable Powers of Attorney.
Basically, if your land records aren't digitized and sitting pretty in the ANAMGIS database by year-end, you won't be able to do business through the Ministry of Lands. It’s a push to get everyone onto their new digital platform.
The ministry is urging folks who haven't started the recertification process to submit their applications ASAP. This whole exercise is about cleaning up and updating the state’s land records, making sure they all fit into the new ANAMGIS system. So, don't sleep on it; get your documents sorted and make sure they're in the database before December 31st.
Now, before you start panicking that your old C of O becomes worthless on January 1st, that’s not quite what the notice says. Your title itself isn’t automatically cancelled. What will happen is that you’ll be restricted from carrying out specific transactions that require the Ministry of Lands’ processing. It’s more about updating your records to function within the new digital framework than an outright cancellation of your ownership document.
Mrs. Nkeiru Mokwe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, has been a key figure in pushing for this digital transformation of land administration in Anambra. Her role involves overseeing the state's land policies and ensuring their implementation. This recertification drive is part of a broader effort to modernise land management systems, aiming for greater efficiency and transparency. It's a move away from the older, often cumbersome paper-based processes that have been in place for years.
The move is expected to streamline property transactions and potentially reduce land disputes by creating a clear, digital record of ownership. For landowners, it’s a wake-up call to ensure their property details are current and officially recognised within the state’s new digital infrastructure. Ignoring this deadline could lead to significant headaches and delays for anyone looking to sell, mortgage, or otherwise transact with their property.