By Muyiwa Akinsanya
The Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS) stands today as one of the most important agencies in Edo State’s institutional landscape. EdoGIS, under the supervision of the Ministry of Lands and Housing, carries the full weight of land administration for an entire state, doing so with boldness and efficiency that are reshaping the relationship between government and property owners across Edo.
With its headquarters at 102 Sapele Road, Benin City, the agency is the single gateway for all matters related to land titles, surveys, cadastral mapping, and geographic data in Edo State. Whether you are a first-time homeowner seeking security of tenure, a developer conducting due diligence, or a corporation requiring bankable land documentation, EdoGIS is where the process begins and ends.
- WHAT EDOGIS DOES
EdoGIS is charged with the mandate of land administration responsibilities on behalf of the Edo State Government. Its mandate is comprehensive:
- Processing and granting Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) and Rights of Occupancy
- Cadastral surveying and mapping of the entire State
- Registration of all land titles and instruments
- Land acquisition and compensation services on behalf of the State Government
- Management of master plans, district plans, and survey information
- Administration of land-based taxes, including the Land Use Charge (LUC)
- Geographic and spatial data services for government agencies and the public
This consolidated mandate means that property owners no longer need to navigate multiple agencies or offices. EdoGIS is the one-stop institution for all land-related matters in Edo State.
- A DIGITAL, CASHLESS AGENCY
Perhaps the most transformative aspect of EdoGIS is its commitment to a fully digital, cashless mode of operation. The agency accepts only electronic transfers — a deliberate policy designed to eliminate the opacity and corruption that plagued land administration in Nigeria for decades.
According to Dr.Tunde Godson Eigbiremolen, Ag. Managing Director, EDOGIS, over 30,000 legacy land file records, stretching back from the Bendel State era to the old Midwest Region, have been digitised, creating an electronic archive that forms the backbone of Edo State’s land registry/title security system.
Any landed property without a Certificate of Occupancy is not a legal asset. We encourage every property and land owner in Edo State to legalise their ownership.
- WHY INVESTORS TRUST EDOGIS
For businesses and investors, the quality and reliability of land documentation is not a bureaucratic formality, it is a fundamental requirement. EdoGIS has become the guarantor of that reliability in Edo State.
Through a transparent search system that surfaces all encumbrances on a parcel , including overlapping titles, government acquisitions, revocations, and forest reserve boundaries, EdoGIS has tackled one of the most persistent threats to property investment in Nigeria, namely, the scourge of multiple Certificates of Occupancy on a single plot of land.
Major corporations, including Dangote Industries, Farmforte Nigeria Limited, Nosak Nigeria Limited, and Okomu Oil Palm Company, have all processed their land documentation through EdoGIS, a testament to the confidence that serious investors now place in the agency’s processes and the security of titles it issues.
Property investors and real estate professionals can conduct formal searches at EdoGIS for N35,000, receiving a legally backed document confirming a parcel’s ownership history, title status, and freedom from encumbrances. In a market where land fraud costs buyers millions, this search is arguably the most important N35,000 any investor can spend.
- CLOSER TO YOU: OFFICES IN EKPOMA AND AUCHI
Recognising that Edo State’s land administration needs to extend far beyond Benin City, EdoGIS has opened branch offices in Ekpoma, at the Esan West Local Government Council Secretariat, and in Auchi, at the Etsako West Local Government Council Secretariat. These offices bring the full range of EdoGIS services to Edo Central and Edo North, eliminating the need for residents to travel to the State capital for land administration matters.
- WHAT EVERY EDO PROPERTY OWNER MUST KNOW
EdoGIS has a direct and urgent message for every land or property owner in Edo State. The security of your investment, your ability to use it as collateral, and your legal standing in any dispute all rest on one document: your Certificate of Occupancy.
• A Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) is the only legal proof that the land is yours. Without it, your property is not a legally recognised asset.
• Land without a C-of-O cannot be used as bank collateral or as security for any financial instrument.
• Before buying any land or property, conduct a formal search at EdoGIS. N35,000 search could save you millions.
• C-of-O applications are processed from N100,000, payable electronically. No cash. No agents. No middlemen.
• New software, advanced equipment, and expanded staffing mean your application is processed faster than ever before.
Edo State is open for investment, and the security of land rights is at the heart of that invitation. EdoGIS exists to ensure that every citizen, every business, and every investor in Edo State can trust the land they stand on.
CONTACT EDOGIS @
Address: 102 Sapele Road, Benin City, Edo State
Phone: 0908-799-2023
Email: info@edogis.org
Muyiwa Akinsanya is Ag. Head, Media Unit, EDOGIS