The Kano State Government has set a final deadline of January 31, 2025, for all landowners in the state to either register or renew their Certificates of Occupancy. Those who fail to meet the deadline will face the revocation of their land titles.
This announcement was made by the Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Umar, during a press briefing on Wednesday. He urged property owners and anyone with land interests in the state to visit the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning to update their records before the deadline.
This directive follows the launch of the recertification process by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, which took place on November 25, 2024, during the re-opening of the Kano State Geographic Information System (KANGIS) building.
The governor emphasized the importance of residents securing their land titles within the framework of the new system. Umar also pointed out that all existing Certificates of Occupancy will become void after January 31, 2025, marking a key change in the way land ownership is managed and protected in Kano State.
Umar assured the public that the administration is dedicated to making the land certification process more affordable, efficient, and secure. The new KANGIS system replaces manual procedures with a digital approach, reducing errors, preventing manipulation of land records, and speeding up transactions. The updated certificates incorporate advanced security features designed to prevent forgery and fraud, thus safeguarding property rights in the state.
He also discussed the numerous benefits of the new system, including greater reliability in land documentation by eliminating manual recordkeeping, a reduction in fraud and criminal activity due to enhanced security measures, and easier processes for verifying and updating land ownership.
Furthermore, he highlighted the cutting-edge facilities at KANGIS, which have been optimized to streamline the recertification process and provide residents with more efficient services. Umar urged all landowners to act quickly and renew their certificates, emphasizing that the recertification process will protect their investments and secure their property rights.
“This initiative is vital for safeguarding the interests of our people and ensuring the security of their property investments,” Umar concluded.