Land is one of the biggest things most Nigerians ever buy — and one of the easiest places to lose money. Fake owners, land sold to several people, government-acquired plots and “omonile” wahala are common. These are the checks to do before you pay, and the papers you must collect after.
📄 The documents you will hear about
Issued by the state government. Shows the government recognises the holder’s right to the land (all land is held under the Land Use Act 1978).
Strongest titleNeeded when land that already has a C of O is sold on. Without it, the new buyer’s title is not complete.
After you buyDrawn by a registered surveyor. Shows the exact size and boundaries, with coordinates you can check at the Surveyor-General’s office.
Must haveThe contract that transfers the land from seller to buyer. Should be stamped and registered at the state Land Registry.
You sign thisFor family or community land in some states (e.g. Lagos): shows the government released that land back to the community, so it can be sold.
Family landUseful, but on their own they do NOT prove ownership.
Not enough🔍 Checks to do before you pay
- Visit the land — more than onceGo on a weekday and at the weekend. Talk to neighbours: who owns it, has it been sold before, is there any dispute?
- Get a surveyor to do a “charting”Your own registered surveyor takes the coordinates to the Surveyor-General’s office to confirm the land is not under government acquisition, a road, a drainage channel or a right-of-way.
- Do a search at the Land RegistryWith the seller’s title number, a lawyer can check at the state Land Registry who the registered owner is and whether the land is mortgaged or has other claims.
- Hire your own property lawyerNot the seller’s lawyer. Your lawyer checks the papers, drafts or reviews the Deed of Assignment and handles registration.
- Pay to a traceable accountPay by bank transfer to the owner (or the family’s official account), never in cash to a middleman. Get receipts signed by the right people.
- Sign, then registerSign the Deed of Assignment with witnesses, then apply for Governor’s Consent / registration. Keep certified copies of everything.
Prices far below the area’s rate, a seller who “must sell today”, a seller who won’t let you do a search, or family land sold by one family member alone are all big warning signs. With family land, the family head and principal members must sign.
