Anambra State has given holders of old Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) until December 31, 2026, to recertify their documents and have their property records captured in the state’s digital land administration system.
The Anambra State Ministry of Lands announced the deadline in a public notice dated September 1, 2026. The notice was signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Nkeiru Mokwe.
According to the Ministry, the existing land administration system will be shut down indefinitely after the deadline. Consequently, holders of old C of Os that have not been recertified and captured in the Anambra State Geographic Information System (ANAMGIS) could lose access to several land-related transactions.
The affected transactions include mortgages, Deeds of Assignment, Certified True Copies (CTCs), registration of Powers of Attorney and other services that require processing through the Ministry of Lands.
The development is important for homeowners, property investors, developers and Nigerians in the diaspora who own land or property in Anambra State.
For these groups, proper title documentation is not simply an administrative requirement. It can determine whether a property can be sold, transferred, used as collateral or properly passed to another owner.
The Ministry has therefore advised holders of old C of Os who have not started the recertification process to submit their applications before the deadline.
The objective is to update existing land records and integrate them into ANAMGIS, creating a more current and digitally accessible database of property titles across the state.
Importantly, the Ministry’s notice does not state that an old C of O will automatically become invalid on December 31.
Instead, the immediate consequence is a restriction on accessing specified land transactions through the Ministry of Lands if the title has not been recertified and captured in ANAMGIS.
This distinction is important for property owners.
In other words, the deadline should not be interpreted as an automatic cancellation of every old C of O. Rather, it creates a deadline for titleholders to update their records if they want to continue accessing the affected services under the state’s current land administration system.
For a property owner planning to sell a house, transfer ownership or secure mortgage financing, however, the practical effect could still be significant.
A title that cannot move smoothly through the relevant government processes may create delays or complications during a transaction.
For example, a buyer who is ready to complete a property purchase may require verification of the title before releasing funds. Similarly, a financial institution considering a mortgage may require current and verifiable property documentation.
Therefore, landowners who have not started the process may need to treat the deadline as a priority rather than waiting until the final weeks of the exercise.
The issue is particularly relevant to investors who purchased properties several years ago and may not have interacted with the Ministry of Lands recently.
Property records can become difficult to verify when ownership information, transfers and other changes are not properly captured in official databases.
By moving older records into a digital system, the state can potentially make title searches and land administration more efficient.
At the same time, property owners benefit when their records are properly updated and easier to verify.
This can become particularly important during property sales.
A buyer is more likely to require evidence that the person offering a property for sale has a valid and traceable interest in the land.
Where records are outdated or difficult to verify, the transaction can take longer and may require additional due diligence.
For developers, updated land records can also support project planning and financing.
Before investing heavily in a residential estate, commercial property or other development, investors need confidence that the underlying land documentation is properly established.
Consequently, digital land administration can potentially reduce some of the uncertainty associated with property transactions.
However, digitisation does not remove the need for independent due diligence.
Property buyers should still verify ownership, survey information, planning requirements, encumbrances and other relevant title details before completing a transaction.
This is especially important where property is being acquired through an agent, family representative or developer.
Why Land Documentation Is Becoming More Important for Nigerian Property Investors
Anambra’s recertification exercise comes as governments across Nigeria increasingly focus on land documentation and formalisation.
The wider objective is to make land ownership more transparent and unlock property that currently has limited economic value because its legal or administrative status is unclear.
This matters because property can serve purposes beyond providing a place to live.
Properly documented property can potentially be sold, transferred, developed or used as collateral for financing.
By contrast, inadequate documentation can limit these opportunities.
A PwC report has estimated that Nigeria has between $300 billion and $900 billion in “dead capital”. The term generally refers to assets that people own but cannot fully use within the formal economy because ownership is not adequately documented or legally recognised.
The Federal Government has consequently been pursuing land formalisation initiatives aimed at improving documentation and titling.
In 2024, the Federal Government reportedly partnered with the World Bank to support a National Land Documentation and Titling Programme.
The programme was designed to increase land formalisation and involve state governments in registering, documenting and titling properties.
The broader objective is to make land records more reliable while helping property owners unlock the economic value of their assets.
Anambra’s move towards ANAMGIS fits into this wider shift towards more structured digital land administration.
For investors, this trend has several implications.
First, property documentation should be treated as part of an investment strategy rather than an afterthought.
An investor may purchase a property because of its location, expected appreciation or rental potential. Yet if the title cannot be properly verified or transferred, the investment can become significantly more difficult to manage.
Second, investors should pay attention to changes in state land administration systems.
Different states have different procedures for registration, title verification, consent and other property transactions.
Therefore, a process that applies in Lagos may not necessarily apply in Anambra.
Third, property owners should keep their documentation current.
This becomes particularly important for Nigerians living abroad.
Diaspora investors may own land or houses in Anambra but spend long periods outside the country. As a result, they may not immediately become aware of changes to land administration requirements.
A missed deadline could create difficulties when they eventually decide to sell, transfer, mortgage or otherwise transact with the property.
They should therefore maintain proper records and monitor official notices concerning their properties.
The Anambra deadline also provides a useful reminder for potential property buyers.
Before paying for land or a house, buyers should establish what title the seller holds and whether the title can be independently verified.
They should also confirm whether previous transactions involving the property were properly registered.
A Deed of Assignment, for instance, does not eliminate the need to examine the underlying title.
Similarly, having a physical C of O does not mean a buyer should skip verification with the relevant land authority.
Proper due diligence can help uncover issues such as conflicting claims, unregistered transactions, encumbrances or inconsistencies in property records.
For developers, the implications can be even greater because a title problem can affect an entire project.
If a developer acquires a large parcel of land without properly confirming its status, resolving ownership disputes later can delay construction and increase costs.
This is why title verification should happen before substantial development funds are committed.
Anambra is not the only state pursuing greater formalisation of land assets.
Lagos State has also been working to bring undocumented land into the formal system.
In January 2026, reports indicated that Lagos was targeting about ₦3 trillion in land assets through a statewide mapping, valuation and documentation exercise.
The initiative initially covered about 2,000 hectares before expanding to approximately 3,744 hectares across multiple locations.
The exercise was aimed at improving land governance, urban planning and revenue generation while unlocking the value of undocumented land.
For investors, these developments point to a broader direction across Nigeria.
Governments are increasingly seeking accurate information about who owns land, where properties are located and how those properties are being used.
Digital land administration can support this process by bringing physical records and property information into structured databases.
However, the effectiveness of such systems will depend on accurate data, efficient processing and accessible services.
For Anambra property owners, the immediate issue remains the December 31, 2026 deadline.
Landowners with old C of Os should begin the recertification process early rather than waiting until the deadline approaches.
They should also retain copies of their relevant title documents and evidence of applications submitted during the process.
For investors planning to acquire property in the state, the development is another reason to make title verification a central part of the buying process.
Ultimately, the Anambra recertification exercise is about more than updating old documents.
It reflects a wider effort to create clearer property records and move land administration towards more digital systems.
If successfully implemented, accurate land records could make property transactions easier to verify and potentially improve confidence among homeowners, developers, financial institutions and investors.
For now, however, landowners with old C of Os have a clear deadline.
Those who want to continue accessing mortgages, Deeds of Assignment, CTCs, Powers of Attorney and other affected land services should ensure their titles are recertified and captured in ANAMGIS before December 31, 2026.