Reviewed on 9 October 2026
Property owners in Anambra State who still hold old Certificates of Occupancy and other land title documents should take note of the current land title recertification exercise. The Anambra State Government has directed holders of old land titles that have not yet been recertified and captured in the Anambra State Geographic Information System, ANAMGIS, to complete the process before 31 December 2026.
The earlier recertification timetable referred to in this article has therefore been overtaken by the present 2026 deadline. According to the State Government, the old land administration system is expected to be shut down indefinitely after 31 December 2026.
What Is Land Title Recertification in Anambra State?
Land title recertification is the process of updating and verifying existing land records and capturing them in the State’s current digital land administration system. The Ministry of Lands states that the exercise applies to both State and private lands.
Recertification should not be confused with applying for a new Certificate of Occupancy, obtaining Governor’s Consent or perfecting a defective root of title. Its purpose is to migrate and verify existing land records so that the title can continue to be processed through the present land administration system.
Why the 31 December 2026 Deadline Matters
The Government’s notice does not say that every unrecertified Certificate of Occupancy automatically becomes invalid on 1 January 2027. The practical consequence announced by the Ministry is nevertheless important. Holders of affected titles may be unable to access certain land administration services until their records have been properly captured in ANAMGIS.
The affected transactions include mortgages, Deeds of Assignment, Certified True Copies of land documents, Irrevocable Powers of Attorney and other transactions that require processing through the Ministry of Lands. A property owner may therefore discover a problem at the point of sale, transfer, mortgage or another transaction if an old title has not been migrated into the current system.
This is particularly important for Nigerians in the diaspora who acquired or inherited property in Anambra many years ago and may still hold older title documents without knowing whether the underlying records have been migrated to ANAMGIS.
What Land Title Recertification Does Not Do
Recertification does not by itself cure a defective title. If the underlying root of title is disputed, incomplete or otherwise defective, recertifying the document does not necessarily resolve that problem. It is also not a substitute for Governor’s Consent where consent is legally required for a transaction.
Likewise, a purchaser should not treat the mere presentation of a recertified document as a substitute for proper due diligence. The vendor’s root of title, authority to sell, survey information, encumbrances, acquisition history and relevant Ministry records should still be investigated before purchase money is paid.
Current Procedure and Processing Fee
The Ministry’s current procedure requires an applicant to complete the prescribed recertification form and submit it with photocopies of the relevant land documents, while producing the original documents for sighting. The Ministry states that the form itself is not for sale and that a separate form should be completed for each Certificate of Occupancy or title document.
A ₦25,000 non-refundable processing fee is presently stated for each title document. Payment is made through the approved State payment channels using the applicant’s ANSSID or ASIN number.
What Property Owners Should Do Now
If you hold an older land title in Anambra State, confirm whether the title has already been captured in ANAMGIS rather than waiting until you urgently need to sell, mortgage, transfer or obtain a certified copy. Where the title forms part of an estate, is held for a family member abroad or is connected with an intended transaction, the verification should be done early enough to identify any defect in the record.
The official State Government notice on the deadline is available at Anambra State Government. The Ministry’s current recertification procedure is available at Anambra State Ministry of Lands.
For property transactions in Anambra, recertification should form part of a wider title review rather than being treated as proof that every aspect of the title is valid. You can also read about our property law services in Anambra State.
If you are dealing with a similar issue, have the relevant documents reviewed before taking the next step. Ebelechukwu Law Firm advises on family, property and succession matters in Nigeria.
