Property Re-certification Guidelines

1. Where an Applicant is legally occupying a land parcel that has an existing Right of Occupancy or existing Certificate of Occupancy, the Applicant shall apply for a new Certificate of Occupancy under the Recertification Programme. An Applicant applying for a Recertification shall use Form  REC. Application forms are free and may be obtained from

EDOGIS Customer Service Centre at:

Block B, 102 Sapele Road,

Benin City

or downloaded from our website at Download Forms Section.

2. The application form should be submitted together with the following documents:

2.1. The original Certificate of Occupancy, which shall be surrendered, or where a Certificate of Occupancy was not issued, the original Offer Letter may be submitted.

2.2. Applicants must present valid photo-identification documents. Accepted IDs include: International Passport, National ID Card, Driver’s License, Voter Registration Card. Note that if a representative is appointed, then they shall be required to provide a valid photo ID.

For Companies or Organizations:
2.3. A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Tax Identification Number (TIN), VAT Number, and a valid Tax Clearance Certificate;

2.4. A personal tax clearance for one company director. The company’s Chief Officer, or Managing Director, or Chairman must present a photo-identification document;

2.5. Accepted IDs include:  International Passport; National ID Card; Driver’s License; Voter Registration Card; Tax Identification Card; and a valid Tax Clearance Certificate. If a representative is appointed, then they shall be required to provide a photo ID.

For Institutions such as schools, hospitals, churches, mosques, NGOs etc: 

2.6. Bring a Certificate of Incorporation from the Corporate Affairs Commission and a Letter of Registration or Approval from the appropriate Federal and or Edo State government agency.

3. Where the Applicant is not the original owner, or the person named in the Certificate of Occupancy, or in the Offer Letter, the Applicant is required to provide evidence of ownership with a transaction document such as a Registered Deed of Assignment or Deed of Gift etc.

4. Where the Applicant is holding a Right of Occupancy in the name of the original owner, but does not have a Registered Deed, the Applicant shall submit the unregistered document (which shall include the signature of the original owner).

5. Special Concessions are available for the duration of the Recertification Program for obtaining Consent and for the Registration of documents:

5.1. Where the Land Use or Land Purpose has been changed, or the plot extended, merged, or sub-divided, the Applicant should apply for a retrospective Consent;

5.2. Where there has been a substantive contravention of land use regulations a penalty may also be applied;

5.3. Once the payments have been made for the Consent and/or the Registration the application can proceed.

6. A bank (or other financial institution) holding a Deed of Mortgage is required to recertify the title under the name of the Mortgagor. All of the above requirements shall be fulfilled.

7. Where an original document has been lost or destroyed, the Applicant shall obtain an affidavit attesting to the loss. The affidavit shall then be submitted together with the application.

8. Upon submission of the application form together with the required documents, EDOGIS shall produce an Acknowledgement Letter, which contains a list of all documents submitted, and where the original C-of-O or Offer of Grant is submitted, it will be cancelled, and a copy will be provided to the Applicant.

9. EDOGIS shall thereafter verify the information and the documentation provided by the Applicant in support of the application for recertification.

10. Should EDOGIS have cause to doubt the accuracy or authenticity of the information or any document submitted in support of the application, it shall notify and invite the Applicant to resolve any conflict or disparity.

11. Upon verification of the Applicant’s information and documentation, EDOGIS will print a new digital Certificate of Occupancy. EDOGIS will prepare the Recertification Bill.

12. After 31st December 2020, any person holding a Statutory or Customary C-of-O which has not been recertified, or for which an application for recertification has not been made, shall be subject to monetary penalties as set in Section 9(3) of the Land Use Act, 2004.