‘Update C-of-O or risk demolition’ – Borno Govt warns property owners

The Borno State Government has warned residents to update their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) and other land documents to reflect current ownership or risk losing their properties.

The warning followed a community sensitisation exercise on land documentation and compliance held on Monday at Pompommari Bypass in Maiduguri.

Officials from the Borno State Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), the Urban Planning and Regional Development Board, and community leaders attended the event.

Speaking after the exercise, the General Manager of the Urban Planning and Regional Development Board, Liman Mustapha, said the exercise aimed to educate residents on proper land documentation and lawful land use.

He explained that many residents possess outdated or invalid land papers not registered in their names, warning that such documents would not be recognised unless updated and approved by the governor.

“If a land was granted for residential purposes and you now use it for something else without approval, it violates the law. Once such violations are found, if correction isn’t possible, the affected structures will be pulled down,” Mustapha said.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of BOGIS, Adam Bababe, lamented the widespread failure of residents to regularise land ownership after property transfers.

“We have seen cases where the original owner sold the land to another person, who sold it again, and after several transfers, the current occupants are not legally recognised. They must update their documents to avoid losing the property,” Bababe stated.