Yusuf Flags Off Issuance of Certificate of Occupancy in Kano

Ahmad  Sorondinki in Kano

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf   yesterday  flagged off the recertification of certificate of occupancy (C-of-O) to all residential and commercial structures across the state.

During the flag-off ceremony, the governor explained that the state has been making frantic effort to create an efficient and transparent land management system.

He said the development followed an introduction of reforms in land administration with the renovation of the Kano State Geographic Information System (KANGIS) and the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning’s administrative block.

According to him, the flag-off would provide comprehensive recertification of C-of-O to ensure accurate, secure land records, protect investments, and resolve disputes, urging landowners to comply promptly.

The governor highlighted the complete renovation of KANGIS and the ministry’s facilities, now equipped with modern ICT infrastructure to enhance service delivery, reflecting the administration’s commitment to professionalism, transparency, and development.

On his part, the Commissioner of Land, Abduljabbar Umar, urged the state to register their ownership interests and individual certificates of ownership for the formal registration of unapproved residential and commercial structures and informal settlements, which have emerged over the years due to rapid population growth and limited development control.

He said: “This process will render all current titles void after a set period, requiring owners to revalidate their titles in line with the new GIS system.”  

“This transformation to digital C-of-O’s will provide numerous benefits which include accurate and reliable records to reduce manipulation and make land ownership easier to verify and update.

“Moving forward, the people of Kano State can expect a Ministry of Land and Physical Planning that is more efficient, customer-focused, and committed to providing timely, transparent services. With the ongoing enhanced security through certificates that are virtually impossible to forge, protecting property rights and reducing fraud.

“I now call on all landowners to come forward and renew their land titles to benefit from the improved system. The recertification process will ensure that ownership records are accurate and protected from future disputes.”