If you’ve been browsing property listings in Owerri, you’ve likely noticed most fall into one of two title categories: “Power of Attorney” or “Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).” They’re not interchangeable, and understanding the difference matters more than almost any other factor in how safe your purchase is.

Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)

A C of O is issued directly by the state government under the Land Use Act and represents the strongest form of land title available in Nigeria’s current legal system. It confirms the holder’s right of occupancy is registered with the government, which makes the title far easier to defend if a dispute arises later, and generally easier to use as collateral for a mortgage or loan.

Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney (PoA) is a legal document that authorises one person to act on behalf of another — in real estate, it’s typically used when the original allottee sells through a representative, or when land hasn’t yet gone through the full C of O registration process. A PoA sale isn’t inherently fraudulent — a large share of genuine transactions in Owerri happen this way — but it carries more risk than a C of O because your protection depends heavily on the legitimacy of the person granting the power and the documents behind it.

So which should you choose?

If a property has a C of O already, that’s the stronger starting position. If it’s being sold under Power of Attorney, it’s not a reason to walk away automatically — many good properties, including several of ours, fall into this category — but it does mean the verification step matters even more. A property lawyer can confirm the PoA is validly executed, and that a survey plan accompanies it, before you commit funds.

See which title type applies to each of our current listings, or speak with our team about a specific property you’re considering.