The most commonly known land title in Delta State is Certificate of Occupancy abbreviated as CofO.
The Certificate Of Occupancy (CofO) is a land title document issued by the state’s governor evidencing the grant of a Statutory right of Occupancy on land in urban areas.
While it is possible to obtain land with CofO as title, 70% of lands bought from families and real estate companies in Delta State don’t have a certificate of Occupancy as their title.
This article will take you through the step-by-step process of obtaining CofO in Delta State Nigeria even though you aren’t an indigene of the state.
This certificate is issued by the state’s Ministry of Land and Survey.
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Below are the Steps To Obtain Your Certificate of Occupancy (COFO) in Delta State
Step 1 – Obtain Application Form – Application forms can be obtained from the Fasttrack Delta ICT Center registry officer, Ministry of Lands and Surveys, Professor Chike Edozien Secretariat along Maryam Babangida Way, Asaba, Delta State Nigeria.
Step 2 – Submission of Survey Plan for Assessment – A survey plan will be needed to issue a fee to the applicant through an assessment letter. It is possible to obtain this assessment letter same day.
Step 3 – Make Payments – Payments should be paid to the Delta State Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) Account as listed on the assessment letter. Applicants can pay a minimum of forty percent (40%) of the total assessed fee or pay the total assessed fee which can also be paid in three installments of 40%, 30%, and 30%.
Step 4 – Obtain Receipts – Applicants can obtain their electronic receipts after they submit their electronic teller (proof of Payment) to the Fasttrack assessment desk.
Step 5 – Submission of Application – Submit the filled physical application form accompanied by all relevant title documents relating to the subject land to the Fasttrack Delta ICT center.
Step 6 – For Verification and Clearance – According to a report from Delta State’s Ministry of Lands and Survey, after you’ve been vetted, you should get a call after 48 hours. This call will confirm whether you’ve passed to the next stage and need to make certain changes to their applications.
The clearance process includes publishing successful applications to the state daily newspaper (Pointer newspaper) as required by law. Only after 21 days without objections from the general public would the application proceed to physical inspection by the office of the Surveyor General and the Department of Town Planning respectively. After a successful inspection by the office of the surveyor general, the application would forwarded to the Lands Department for continued actions on the application.
After a final assessment and approval by the Secretary Land Use and Allocation Committee, an offer letter would be sent to applicants which would require applicants to make payment for the final assessment. After payment, applicants would have to submit their proof of payment to the Fasttrack Assessment Desk at the Ministry of Lands to obtain their electronic receipt for payment (acknowledgment printout).
Step 7 – Called Up To Collect Your CofO – Applicants whose C of Os are fully registered and cleared of all payment liabilities and ready for pickup will be notified by phone calls to pick up at the state’s Ministry of Land and survey.
Read Also: 5 Common Real Estate Scams To Avoid While Investing In Delta State
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COFO?
- Two Passport Photograph
- 4 copies of the duly stamped deed of purchase.
- Valid Means of Identification (International passport, Driver’s license, or voter’s card)
- One Original copy of the Survey Plan.
- A copy of your Survey Lodgment Certificate.
- Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) for the immediate past 3 years.
- Photocopy of acknowledgment printouts issued by the assessment desk after payment
- Originals of Tellers and E-receipt of CofO of payment.
HOW MUCH IS COFO IN DELTA STATE?
There is no flat rate for payment for a certificate of occupancy in Delta State. The amount for the certificate may vary depending on land size, location, purpose, and land type. An assessment done for a plot of 464 sqm or 100ftx50ft was charged at ₦168,000 as of 2024. Some may go up to ₦200,000-₦500,000 depending on the above factors.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PROCESS CofO in DELTA STATE
It is almost impossible to put the actual time it takes to process your CofO because of verification issues resulting from incomplete documentation, outstanding inspections, incomplete applications, etc.
However, the Delta State Government assured applicants that they should receive their certificate of Occupancy within 3 months after submission of application forms.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO OBTAIN A COFO IN DELTA STATE
While some landowners shy away from obtaining this title because they believe it is time-consuming and involves a lengthy process, it is important to get a Certificate of Occupancy(CofO) for your property because:
- Establishes you as the legal owner of the property – This document serves as proof of ownership. It confirms that the government has officially recognized you as the rightful owner, protecting your property rights.
- Increases Value: Properties with CofO as a title are priced higher compared with properties without. Buyers and investors are more likely to purchase property with clear legal documentation.
- Access To Loan – Banks and other lenders require C of O as collateral for loans. It allows you to secure funding using your land as a guarantee.
- Inheritance and Transfer – A C of O simplifies transferring ownership through sale or inheritance as it clearly outlines the rightful owner and makes transactions legally binding.
Read Also: 5 Steps To Secure Your Property After Purchase
CONCLUSION
It is important to deal with governmental officials directly at their offices rather than working with roadside agents. The governmental body responsible for issuing CofO titles in the state is the Ministry of Lands and Surveys located at Professor Chike Edozien Secretariat along Maryam Babangida Way, Asaba, Delta State Nigeria.