The Kano State government has issued a directive requiring all landowners to renew their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) by January 31, 2025, or risk revocation of their land titles. The announcement, made by the Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Umar, highlights the administration’s commitment to ensuring secure and properly documented land ownership.
“All current Certificates of Occupancy will become invalid after the deadline,” Umar stated during a press briefing, urging landowners to visit the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning to register or renew their land documents.
The initiative follows the recertification exercise announced by Governor Abba Yusuf on November 25, 2024, during the re-commissioning of the Kano State Geographic Information System (KANGIS) building. The governor emphasized the importance of leveraging the upgraded system to secure land ownership rights.
The new system, housed at the KANGIS facility, is designed to streamline land documentation, replacing outdated manual processes with digital systems to reduce errors and prevent manipulation.
“The new Certificates of Occupancy feature advanced security measures, making them nearly impossible to forge,” Umar explained, adding that this innovation will protect property rights and minimize the risk of fraud.
Umar urged landowners to act promptly, stating, “This exercise is part of the administration’s efforts to provide affordable, accessible, and secure land documentation, which is critical for strengthening property rights across the state.”
The government warns that failure to comply with the directive before January 31, 2025, may result in complications or the loss of property rights. Landowners are encouraged to initiate the recertification process immediately to safeguard their investments and contribute to the state’s drive for secure land ownership.
