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The short answer
In Ekiti State you apply for a Certificate of Occupancy to the Bureau of Land Services, in person at Ado-Ekiti or online through the state's Land Management Information System (LMIS), with an approved survey plan, tax clearance and other documents. The Bureau's guide dated 22 December 2023 lists a ₦5,000 form fee and, for a residential plot of up to 1,000 square metres in Ado-Ekiti, a ₦50,000 C of O fee plus smaller charges and stamp duty of 3% of the land value. It states 30 working days from submission and payment to collection.
A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) is the state government's grant of a statutory right of occupancy over land, and it is the title most buyers and lenders look for. In Ekiti State, the Bureau of Land Services handles applications. Its published guide, dated 22 December 2023 and signed by the Executive Secretary, sets out both a manual process and an online one, the documents needed and a fee table. This article walks through that guide. Fees may have changed since it was published, so confirm with the Bureau before you pay.
Where to apply
- Bureau of Land Services, Revenue House
- Beside the Tantalizer building, Fajuyi, Ado-Ekiti: collect forms.
- Bureau of Land Services, State Secretariat
- Deji Ajayi Building, ground floor, New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti: forms and submission.
- Office of the Surveyor-General
- State Secretariat Complex, New Iyin Road: survey plan approval.
- Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development
- Same complex: building plan approval or land use clearance.
- Online
- Ekiti State LMIS, lmis.ekitistate.gov.ng, with payment through Remita.
The guide also says a right of occupancy is not required before you apply for a C of O in Ekiti State. Desk officers are available 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
Documents you need
- Two passport photographs.
- A survey plan approved and certified by the State Surveyor-General.
- An approved building plan if the land is developed, or a land use clearance if it is not, from the Ministry of Physical Planning.
- An affidavit of ownership signed by the head of family and the family secretary of the original landowning family, from the State High Court.
- Three years' tax clearance certificate and three years' Ekiti State development levy receipts, from the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS).
- A CAC certificate if the applicant is a company.
- A site feasibility report for land over 5,000 square metres or for agricultural use; filling stations and industries also need fire service and police reports.
The steps
- Validate your survey: online, you upload it and the Surveyor-General verifies and digitises it.
- Pay the ₦5,000 application form fee (at a bank and receipted at EKIRS, or through Remita) and submit the form with documents. Online, you get an email acknowledgement and a file number.
- A desk officer vets the documents and may issue a compliance directive if anything is missing. Processing fees are calculated and paid.
- Joint land inspection: the guide says scheduling takes up to 48 hours and the inspection up to another 48 hours.
- The list of applicants and land locations is published in a national newspaper.
- The C of O is engrossed, ground rent is calculated, and the file goes up for the Governor's approval.
- Stamp duty is assessed and paid, and the C of O is stamped.
- The Registrar of Titles registers it at the Deeds Registry and you are notified to collect it.
Fees from the official table
| Item (residential, Ado-Ekiti, up to 1,000 sqm) | Amount in the Dec 2023 guide |
|---|---|
| Application form | ₦5,000 |
| C of O fee | ₦50,000 |
| Excess area above 1,000 sqm | ₦50 per sqm |
| Land use clearance | ₦2,000 |
| Advertisement | ₦10,000 |
| Surveyor-General approval | ₦5,000 |
| Stamp duty (EKIRS) | 3% of land value |
The excess-area rate is lower outside the capital: ₦37.50 per square metre at local government headquarters and ₦25 in other towns. Agricultural and industrial land in Ado-Ekiti pays a ₦100,000 C of O fee for the first hectare. Ground rent is calculated during processing; the guide does not give a figure.
Worked example
Example: an undeveloped 800 sqm residential plot in Ado-Ekiti valued at ₦5,000,000. Form ₦5,000 + C of O fee ₦50,000 + land use clearance ₦2,000 + advertisement ₦10,000 + Surveyor-General approval ₦5,000 = ₦72,000. Stamp duty at 3% of ₦5,000,000 is ₦150,000. Total from the table: ₦222,000. A 1,200 sqm plot would add 200 sqm × ₦50 = ₦10,000. This excludes the surveyor's own charges, ground rent, any tax you owe to obtain clearance, and lawyer's fees.
Why it often takes longer than 30 working days
The guide states 30 working days from submission and payment to collection. In practice, delays commonly come from survey plans that need correcting, family affidavits where the right signatories are not available, missing tax clearance, and the wait for the Governor's signature. Keep copies of every receipt, note your file number and follow up with the desk officer by phone or in person. Once you have a C of O, any later sale needs the Governor's consent and a registered deed of assignment.
Where Pryme fits
Title fees and stamp duty arrive in stages, so it helps to keep the money ready. A Naira Savings Box can hold it, and if you are abroad, a multicurrency account lets you convert to naira with Swap when you choose. See also saving for land and buying land in Ado-Ekiti from abroad.
Questions people ask
How much is C of O in Ekiti State?
The Bureau of Land Services guide dated Dec 2023 lists ₦5,000 for the form and ₦50,000 C of O fee for a residential plot up to 1,000 sqm in Ado-Ekiti, plus smaller fees and 3% stamp duty on land value.
How long does it take to get C of O in Ekiti?
The official guide says 30 working days from submission and payment. Corrections to surveys or documents can make it longer.
Can I apply for Ekiti C of O online?
Yes. The guide describes an online process on the Ekiti LMIS at lmis.ekitistate.gov.ng, with payments through Remita.
Do I need family consent for C of O on family land in Ekiti?
The guide asks for an affidavit of ownership signed by the head of family and the family secretary of the original owner.
Sources
- Ekiti State Bureau of Land Services: Process for obtaining C of O in Ekiti State (22 Dec 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ekiti State Bureau of Land Services: Regulatory procedure for Deed of Assignment / Governor's Consent (27 Dec 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.