The Anambra State Government has given holders of old Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) until December 31, 2026, to recertify their land titles and have them captured in the Anambra State Geographic Information System (ANAMGIS), warning that those who fail to do so will no longer be able to process key land transactions through the Ministry of Lands after the deadline.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ELLAN.png")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
The directive was contained in a public notice dated September 1, 2026, issued by the Anambra State Ministry of Lands and signed by its Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Nkeiru Mokwe.
According to the government, the existing land administration system under which the old Certificates of Occupancy are presently processed will be shut down indefinitely on December 31, 2026.
The Ministry therefore urged all persons holding old C of Os who have yet to commence the recertification exercise to submit their documents for processing before the deadline.
It explained that once the old system is shut down, holders of Certificates of Occupancy that have not been recertified and migrated into the ANAMGIS database will be unable to undertake transactions requiring the involvement or approval of the Ministry of Lands.
“Be advised that the old system will be shutdown indefinitely on the 31st day of December, 2026, after which the holders of the old Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) will no longer be able to carry out any transactions such as Mortgages, Deed of Assignment, Certified True Copy (CTC), Registration of Power of Attorney etc., unless their documents have been duly recertified and captured in the ANAMGIS database,” the notice stated.
Transactions affected by the directive include mortgages, Deeds of Assignment, applications for Certified True Copies of title documents, registration of Powers of Attorney, including irrevocable Powers of Attorney, and other land transactions requiring processing by the Ministry.
Under the new arrangement, only titleholders whose existing land records have been recertified and integrated into the ANAMGIS digital database will be able to continue carrying out such transactions after December 31.
The Ministry said the exercise is aimed at updating existing land records and integrating them into the state’s current digital land administration system.
Landowners with old Certificates of Occupancy have consequently been advised not to wait until the expiration of the deadline before commencing the process, as failure to complete the exercise could prevent them from dealing with their properties through transactions that require registration, consent, certification or other official processing by the state government.
The government, however, did not state that Certificates of Occupancy that have not been recertified would automatically become invalid or cancelled from January 1, 2027.
Rather, the consequence expressly stated in the notice is that holders of such old titles will be unable to carry out specified transactions through the Ministry of Lands unless and until their documents have been recertified and captured in the ANAMGIS database.
The distinction means that the December 31 deadline is primarily a deadline for migrating and updating existing land records under the state’s new administrative system, rather than an express cancellation of all old Certificates of Occupancy that have not been recertified.
The development forms part of wider efforts by governments across Nigeria to modernise land administration, improve title documentation and bring landed assets that remain outside formal registration systems into a verifiable database.
The Federal Government has also been pursuing a broader land formalisation programme aimed at increasing the proportion of formally documented property across Nigeria.
Nigeria has for years faced challenges arising from large numbers of landed properties that are occupied or economically valuable but cannot easily be deployed as collateral because ownership records are either unclear, incomplete or not formally registered.
A PwC assessment has estimated that Nigeria has between $300 billion and $900 billion worth of so-called “dead capital” — property and other assets whose economic value cannot be fully unlocked because of inadequate title documentation and registration.
As part of efforts to address the problem, the Federal Government has worked with the World Bank on a National Land Documentation and Titling Programme intended to significantly increase the level of formal land registration across the country.
The programme is designed to involve state governments, which exercise substantial responsibility for land administration under Nigeria’s legal framework, in improving land registration, documentation and titling.
The Federal Government has argued that more effective property documentation would enable landowners to use their assets more readily as collateral, improve access to credit and investment, strengthen land governance and reduce disputes arising from uncertain ownership records.
Anambra’s ANAMGIS recertification exercise similarly places emphasis on creating an updated and accessible digital record of existing property interests in the state.
The move also mirrors similar land documentation initiatives in other states.
Lagos State, for instance, has been pursuing a mapping, valuation and documentation programme covering thousands of hectares of previously undocumented landed assets estimated to be worth trillions of naira.
The Lagos exercise has been presented as part of efforts to curb improper land use, improve urban planning, unlock dormant economic value, facilitate investment and strengthen internally generated revenue.
For Anambra landowners, however, the immediate implication of the September 1 notice is that holders of old Certificates of Occupancy who intend to continue carrying out mortgages, assignments, registrations of Powers of Attorney, requests for Certified True Copies and other Ministry-backed transactions must ensure that their title records are recertified and migrated into ANAMGIS before the old land administration system is shut down on December 31, 2026.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion.
Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating:
"....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic."
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
______________________________________________________________________
