Abia State Government Services Portal
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Ministry of Lands and Survey

Property & Land

Apply for a Certificate of Occupancy, register a survey plan or a power of attorney, obtain the Governor's consent, register a deed or search a title — online, with every step tracked and every document verifiable by its number.

Your ABSSIN is confirmed by a code to the phone on your record Titles are numbered against your tax clearance
Start here

What do you want to do?

Choose what describes you. Where it takes more than one application, they are listed in the order you need them.

I have land but no title

Bought, allocated or inherited land with a survey plan, and want a Certificate of Occupancy.

  1. 1 Certificate of Occupancy

I am about to buy land

Search the register first, then obtain the Governor's consent and register the deed in your name.

  1. 1 Title Search
  2. 2 Governor's ConsentAssignment (sale or transfer)
  3. 3 Deed Registration

I am selling, mortgaging or leasing titled land

Any dealing in land held under a C of O needs the Governor's consent before the deed is registered.

  1. 1 Governor's Consent
  2. 2 Deed Registration

I built on land that has no title

Regularise land held under customary tenure, built on, released from acquisition or never perfected.

  1. 1 Regularisation of Title

My C of O is old, damaged or lost

Replace it with a recertified, digitally numbered title that anyone can verify.

  1. 1 Recertification of Title

Someone will act for me

Register the power of attorney first; your attorney then applies for you and the power is checked automatically.

  1. 1 Power of Attorney RegistrationRegister a power of attorney

My land has never been registered

Bring it onto the register on proof of how it came to you and that you possess it.

  1. 1 First Registration of Title

I am a licensed surveyor

Lodge a client's survey plan with the Surveyor-General for checking, charting and a registered plan number.

  1. 1 Survey Plan Registration

I want to use my land for something else

Convert registered land to a new use — residential to commercial, for example — before you develop it.

  1. 1 Change of Purpose

I want to build on my land

Have the building plans approved by the Ministry or the development authority for the area, before work starts.

  1. 1 Building Plan Approval
Titles

Get, renew or regularise a statutory title over land you hold.

Certificate of Occupancy

Apply for a Certificate of Occupancy over land you hold — the grant of a statutory right of occupancy, numbered against your tax clearance and verifiable by QR code.

The holder of the land (individual, joint holders or a company), or an attorney holding a REGISTERED power of attorney.
See what it involves

First Registration of Title

Bring land that has never been registered onto the register, on proof of the root of title and possession.

The holder of unregistered land, or their registered attorney.
See what it involves

Recertification of Title

Replace an older Certificate of Occupancy with a recertified, digitally numbered and verifiable one — or replace a lost one.

The holder of the existing title, or their registered attorney.
See what it involves

Regularisation of Title

Regularise land held or developed without a statutory title — for example land bought under customary tenure and built on — and receive a C of O.

The person in possession, or their registered attorney.
See what it involves
Dealings in titled land

Sell, mortgage or lease land under a title, register the deed, or let someone act for you.

Governor's Consent

Obtain the Governor's consent to assign, mortgage or sub-lease land held under a statutory right of occupancy.

The holder of the title (or their registered attorney).
See what it involves

Deed Registration

Register a deed of assignment, mortgage, lease, gift or release in the Lands Registry once any consent it needs has been given.

A party to the deed, or their registered attorney.
See what it involves

Power of Attorney Registration

Register a power of attorney over land in Abia State, so the attorney can act for the owner — including applying for a Certificate of Occupancy.

The donee (attorney), the donor (owner), or a legal practitioner lodging for either.
See what it involves
Survey and search

Register a survey plan, or search the register before you buy or lend.

Survey Plan Registration

A licensed surveyor lodges a client's survey plan with the Surveyor-General's office to be checked, charted and given a registered plan number.

Licensed surveyors registered with the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON) and enrolled with the Surveyor-General.
See what it involves

Title Search

Search the Lands Registry before you buy, lend against or litigate over land: who holds it, what is registered against it, and whether it is encumbered.

Anyone with an ABSSIN — a buyer, a bank, a lawyer — for a stated purpose.
See what it involves
Development

Change what your land may be used for, or have your building plans approved.

Change of Purpose

Change what registered land may be used for — from residential to commercial, for example — on its survey plan and, where it has one, its Certificate of Occupancy.

The holder of the land (the client on its survey plan, or the holder of its title), or their registered attorney.
See what it involves

Building Plan Approval

Have your building plans approved before you build — by the Ministry, or by the development authority for Aba, Umuahia or Ohafia.

The holder of the land, their registered attorney, or a developer building with the holder's written consent.
See what it involves
Charges and approvals

Land use charge and building permits

Land Use Charge

See and pay the yearly land use charge on property you have registered on your ABSSIN account.

Sign in with your ABSSIN. Your property must be on My Land first.
Open my land use charge

How Land Services works

  1. Confirm your ABSSIN. A code goes to the phone already on your ABSSIN record — nobody can apply in your name with your number alone.
  2. Apply for the service you need. The form asks only what your situation calls for, and lists exactly the documents to upload.
  3. The Ministry checks it. Registry, survey, valuation and legal officers each review their part. If anything more is needed you are asked, and the clock waits for you.
  4. Fees are assessed and checked by two officers, then billed to you with one bill reference you can pay online, at a bank or at any collection point.
  5. Approval and issue. Approvals are signed by different officers. A title is numbered only once your tax clearance and any duties are clear.
  6. Verify it any time. Anyone can check a title, survey plan or search report by its number or QR code.

Before you start

  • Your ABSSIN — and access to the phone on your ABSSIN record. Get an ABSSIN or update your phone first if needed.
  • For a title: a registered survey plan number from the Surveyor-General (your surveyor lodges the plan), or a copy of an older plan.
  • Applying for someone else? You need a registered power of attorney naming you, registered here first.
  • A current tax clearance certificate for the holder — titles and consents are issued only against one.