Anambra Warns Old Land Titles Will Face Service Restrictions After December 31

The Anambra State Government has directed property owners holding old Certificates of Occupancy to complete the ongoing land-title recertification exercise by December 31, 2026.

The Ministry of Lands said the state’s former land-administration system would be shut down indefinitely after the deadline as it completes the transition to a digital platform.

Landowners whose documents have not been recertified and entered into the Anambra State Geographic Information System database may be unable to access important property services.

The affected services include the processing of mortgages, Deeds of Assignment, Certified True Copies, Irrevocable Powers of Attorney and other land transactions requiring approval or documentation from the ministry.

The government explained that the exercise is intended to update existing land records, improve title security and integrate property information into the ANAMGIS digital database.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Mrs Nkeiru Mokwe, urged affected property owners to begin the process without further delay.

She said completing the exercise before the deadline would help landowners protect their interests and avoid disruptions when conducting property transactions after the old system is closed.

The directive applies specifically to holders of old Certificates of Occupancy that have not been recertified or captured digitally.

Importantly, the government’s latest notice warns of restrictions on access to land-administration services. It does not state that every unrecertified title will automatically be revoked on December 31.

Property owners are therefore advised to obtain guidance directly from the Anambra State Ministry of Lands or the ANAMGIS Service Centre and complete the required documentation ahead of the deadline.

Sources: Nairametrics and the Anambra State Government.