The Kano State Government has announced a 60-day extension for the ongoing recertification of Certificates of Occupancy (CofO), urging landowners to comply or risk losing their titles. This announcement was made during a press conference by Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Mohammed Umar.
The initial deadline of April 1, 2025, which coincided with the Eid holiday, had already been pushed back from January 24 to allow more time for property owners to participate. Despite this, many have been hesitant to engage in the recertification process, which the commissioner described as unfortunate. He warned that failure to comply could lead to title revocation under the Land Use Act of 1978.
The recertification fee remains at a flat rate of N10,000, excluding any outstanding statutory debts, with the new deadline set for May 30, 2025. Since the initiative launched on November 25, 2024, over 241,000 properties have been documented across six key local government areas.
Umar emphasized that this enumeration is essential for creating an accurate land database that will aid the government in understanding property usage, estimating revenue potential, and effective infrastructure planning. To enforce compliance, names of defaulters will be published in national newspapers and displayed on public notice boards.
Additionally, plans are underway to introduce Sectional Titling in Kano State, which will streamline land ownership processes for commercial and residential developments. The commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to land reforms and encouraged residents to take advantage of the extended window to secure their property rights.
