Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) | How To Get C of O in 2021

Do you know that the Certificate of Occupancy, also known as C of O, is the most important document to a landowner or property buyer in Nigeria? 

This document is issued by the state governments in Nigeria and declares you as the legitimate land or property owner.

A piece of land or property bought without a Certificate of Occupancy is as good as possessing a vehicle without a logbook. 

This is not the kind of situation you want to find yourself in as a landowner or property owner in Nigeria.

This article will clarify everything you need to know about the Certificate of Occupancy(C of O) in Nigeria, including the steps to take to obtain one.

A certificate of occupancy in recent times is a valuable piece of document. While it is not the ultimate proof of the right of occupancy over land, it is recognized by the law unless a far better title is proved, which is unlikely in most cases.

What is a Certificate of Occupancy?

A Certificate of Occupancy is a land title document issued to an individual by the Government as legal proof of land ownership in Nigeria. The Government can seize a plot of land or property without a C of O at any time without any compensation paid.

According to Section 9 of the Land Use Act 1978, the State Governor of the state in Nigeria where the land is located can issue the certificate of occupancy. The Section provides that "When any person is entitled to a statutory right of occupancy, to issue a certificate under his hand in evidence of such right of occupancy" this act introduced the notion of land use (residential, commercial, mixed-use, etc.).

Some people believe that the certificate of occupancy granted by the Government is a way for them to remain in control of the land. It would seem that the act is merely trapping, giving the occupant a period of 99years to sublet the land.  

One of the features that make a Certificate of Occupancy different from all other title documents is that no land in Nigeria can bear two Certificates of Occupancy because it is the first title document issued on land, whether bare or developed, which has never been registered at the land registry. 

The land upon which a C of O is issued is first registered by the Surveyor-General of the State or the Federation where it is Federal land. 

The essence of charting the ground is to work out if it is free from any government acquisition.

Here are some of the things found on the C of O:

Certificate of Occupancy number
File number
Plot number
Location details
Plot size
Survey plan or graphic (plot shape)
Date of issue
Lease term
Initial annual ground rent fees
Land use purpose
Terms and conditions
Importance of having a Certificate of Occupancy
Having a C of O ascertains one as the owner of a plot of land or property.
It prevents the Government from confiscating one's land or property without compensation.
For bank loans, a Certificate of Occupancy is accepted as collateral.
Having a C of O increases the value of one's land, particularly in Abuja.
It prevents a situation where multiple owners claim a single property.

Read More at https://realestateinlagos.com/certificate-of-occupancy-c-of-o/