Procedure for Obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy in Uyo

For Private Land

To obtain a Certificate of Occupancy in Uyo for private land, the following documents and materials are to be submitted to the Land Use and Allocation Committee, Block 3, State Secretariat, Uyo:

Application Form (See Akwa Ibom State 2020 Gazette Page B6, Items 4 and 5 for Rates)
Photocopy of registered and stamped Power of Attorney.
Photocopy of Tax Clearance Certificate for 3 years
Survey Plan of Plot.
Certificate of Deposit of Survey Plan
Photocopy of receipt of purchase of Application form
1 No. file Jacket
2 No. Self Addressed Envelopes.
Application for Letter of Consent

The submitted applications are then published or advertised for not less than 28 days for the public to be aware and raise objections, if any, against wrongful claims.

Physical inspection of plots are also carried out by Town Planners from the Land Use Allocation Committee to ensure that plots do not fall within Government acquired land or any public utility infrastructure and also that they actually exist.

Successful applications are thereafter compiled in schedule and forwarded to the Governor’s Office, Uyo for Approval–in–principle by the Governor.

The Schedule is returned to the Land Use and Allocation Committee who then forwards the same to the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources, Block 4, State Secretariat, Uyo for further processing.

The applicant is expected to submit the following documents and materials to the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources for preparation of the Certificate.

1. Photocopy of registered title document.
2. Photocopy of Tax Clearance Certificate for 3 years.
3. 4 No. Original Survey Plans for subject plot.
4. 4 No. recent passport photographs of applicant or Incorporation of the company
5. 2 No. file jackets and envelops
6. Payment of assessed statutory fees.

Certificates are then prepared and forwarded to the Governor for execution.

Upon execution by the Governor, the Certificates are returned to the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources

They are then sent to the Internal Revenue Service, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo (Formerly Board of Internal Revenue (B. I. R.)) for stamp duties.

Upon return from the Internal Revenue Service, the certificates are finally sent to the Deeds Registry, Ministry of Lands and Water Resources for registration

The number, page and volume are clearly indicated at the back of the Certificate in the Deeds Registry for ease of future reference

Government Land

To obtain Certificate of Occupancy in Uyo for government land, the applicant is expected to submit the following documents and materials to the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources for preparation of the Certificate.

1. Photocopy of registered title document .
2. Photocopy of Tax Clearance Certificate for 3 years.
3. 4 No. Original Survey Plans for subject plot.
4. 4 No. recent passport photographs of applicant or Incorporation of the company.
5. 2 No. file jackets and envelops.
6. Payment of premium stated in the allocation Letter and assessed statutory fees issued by the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources
7. Photocopy of registered and stamped Power of Attorney.

Certificates are then prepared and forwarded to the Governor for execution.

Upon execution by the Governor, the Certificates are returned to the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources

They are then sent to the Internal Revenue Service, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo (Formerly Board of Internal Revenue (B. I. R.)) for stamp duties.

Upon return from the Internal Revenue Service, the certificates are finally sent to the Deeds Registry, Ministry of Lands and Water Resources for registration

The number, page and volume are clearly indicated at the back of the Certificate in the Deeds Registry for ease of future reference.

Conclusion

In concluding, a Certificate of Occupancy is only an evidence of title or exclusive possession. Once it is shown that there is a customary owner who has a better title over the land before the issuance of the Certificate, the Certificate will be readily revoked. The Certificate is granted for a specific duration and therefore does not accord the beneficiary a perpetual interest. It can be declared null and void by a Court of competent jurisdiction upon the matter being properly brought before it, such was obtained fraudulently.

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