The Anambra State Government has directed holders of old Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) to complete the recertification of their land documents on or before December 31, 2026.
The Punch reported that the state Ministry of Lands issued the directive in a public notice dated September 1, 2026, signed by its Permanent Secretary, Mrs Nkeiru Mokwe.
The ministry warned that the existing land administration system would be shut down indefinitely after the deadline, potentially preventing owners of unrecertified C of Os from accessing some land-related services.
Among the transactions that could be affected are mortgages, Deeds of Assignment, Certified True Copies, registration of Irrevocable Powers of Attorney and other services requiring processing by the Ministry of Lands.
According to the ministry, affected landowners must have their documents recertified and their records captured in the Anambra State Geographic Information System, ANAMGIS, before they can continue to access the specified services under the new system.
“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 read in part.
The government said the recertification exercise is already ongoing and advised landowners who are yet to begin the process to submit their applications promptly.
It explained that the exercise is designed to update existing land records and migrate them into the state’s digital land administration platform through ANAMGIS.
The ministry further urged property owners not to wait until the deadline, stressing that early completion would help prevent difficulties in accessing land administration services after the old system is discontinued.
However, the notice did not indicate that old Certificates of Occupancy would automatically become invalid once the December 31 deadline passes.
Rather, the immediate implication of failing to recertify is that holders may be unable to process specified transactions through the Ministry of Lands.
The deadline is therefore primarily aimed at ensuring that existing land titles are updated and migrated into the ANAMGIS-based system, rather than cancelling the underlying Certificates of Occupancy.
