Policy

IMPORTANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY

Before the promulgation of the Land Use Act of 1978, Land was held in trust by the traditional rulers Viz: Obas, Emirs etc. With the advent of the Land Use Act of 1978, all forms of ownership of land were extinguished and the Act vested all the land in every State of Nigeria in the Governor of that State who shall hold such land in trust and administer it for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians.

 The Act provides for the grant of Statutory Right of Occupancy of land in urban areas and Customary Right of Occupancy in non-urban areas.
 (a) By virtue of the Land Use Act of 1978, Certificates of Occupancy form the highest title to landed properties worldwide.
 (b) It is verifiable title when litigation arises
(c) It is an acceptable document by financial institutions as collateral for sourcing facilities.
(d) It is also an acceptable document in the Court of Law as a surety for bail bond.
(e) It is revocable at any point in time by the Governor for overriding public
purposes.
(f) It can be tendered in Embassies especially when processing travel documents to foreign countries.
(4) It is revenue yielding (e.g the yearly ground rents, mortgages and consent fee assessments).

PROCESS OF OBTAINING CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY

A PRIVATE LAND
(a) Obtain application form (hard copy) from the Ministry, (Land Use and Allocation Section) or any of its field offices in Edo State or download same from our website.
(b) Complete the application form (hard copy or online) and return same accompanied with;

(i) Your root of title to the subject parcel of land
(ii) Your survey plan (3 copies required)
(iii) Your tax clearance certificate (covering the past 3 years) or evidence of being domiciled abroad where applicable;
(iv) passport photographs (3 copies required)
(v) official receipt for application fees of five thousand naira(Residential) land use) or ten thousand naira for (Commercial land use).
(vi) Advert fees on the Nigerian Observer in the sum of twelve thousand naira(payable directly to the Land Use and Allocation Unit of the Ministry, and
(vii) Your cell phone contact and e-mail addresses where applicable.
(C) Advertisement of your application(in batches) is made on the Nigerian
Observer to give room for objections (if any) to the grant of Certificate of Occupancy.
(d) If no objection is received within 21 days statutory waiting period,
Your application will be processed by the relevant departments of the Ministry;
(e) Make sure your survey plan is lodged in the Ministry’s Survey
Archives by your registered Surveyor;
(f) Make sure you or your agent is available to conduct joint
Inspection of your plot with an officer on the Town Planning Department of the Ministry.
(g) Make sure you pay up your premium and other charges are paid soon after receipt of your assessment letter.
(h) On payment of the prescribed fees in (g) above your Certificate of
Occupancy will be prepared and forwarded to Mr. Governor for endorsement
(i) On return of your Certificate of Occupancy from Mr. Governor, it will be sent for stamp duties for stamping.

(j) Thereafter it is registered in the Lands Registry of the Ministry and
you can then sign, and collect your Certificate of Occupancy duly signed and registered.
(k) It is always advisable you pay your ground rent in advance for at least one year immediately after you collect your Certificate of Occupancy.

GOVERNMENT LAND
1. Applications are made to the Governor through the Secretary, Land Use and Allocation Committee, for a grant/approval of a parcel of land.
a. Obtain application form (hard copy) from the Ministry, (Land Use and Allocation Section) or any of its field offices in Edo State or download same from our website.
b. Complete the application from (hard copy or online) and return same accompanied with;
i. Your tax clearance certificate (covering the past 3 years) or evidence of being domiciled abroad where applicable;
ii. Passport photographs (3 copies required)
iii. Official receipt for application fees of Five Thousand Naira (Residential) land use) or ten thousand naira for commercial land use:
c. Your applications is considered by the SLUAC, who in turn will make recommendations to Mr. Governor for his approval.
d. If approved, plot(s) will the be allocated to you, subject to payment of the prescribed fees as will be stated in your offer letter.
e. You will usually be required to pay these fees within a period of not more than 90 days failing which the offer will lapse and your plot will be re-allocated to some other deserving applicants(s).
f. If you pay with the stipulated time limit, your Certificates of Occupancy will then be prepared and forwarded for Governor’s signature.
g. Mr. Governor, having signed it will be forwarded for stamping and subsequently registered same for owner’s collection.
 

HOW TO OBTAIN GOVERNOR’S CONSENT FOR SUBSEQUENT TRANSACTIONS

HOW TO OBTAIN APPROVED BUILDING PLANS TO DEVELOP YOUR PLOT IN EDO STATE