10/09/2026
7 DOCUMENTS YOU MUST UNDERSTAND BEFORE BUYING LAND IN NIGERIA 🇳🇬
Don’t just ask, “How much is the land?”
Ask: “What is the title?”
— SURVEY PLAN 📍
Shows the land’s exact location, size, boundaries and coordinates.
It helps you know whether the land actually exists where the seller claims.
No proper survey = don’t guess.
— DEED OF ASSIGNMENT
This documents the transfer of interest in the property from the seller/assignor to the buyer/assignee.
It provides evidence of the transaction and the interest being transferred.
Always have a lawyer review it.
— CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY (C of O) 🏠
A Certificate of Occupancy is evidence of a statutory right of occupancy granted by the relevant government authority.
But remember:
Seeing “C of O” does NOT mean you should skip verification.
— GOVERNOR’S CONSENT ✍️
Where the law requires consent for a transfer of a statutory right of occupancy, the relevant consent is critical to the transaction.
A document is not enough—verify its status.
— GAZETTE 📰
A Gazette can officially publish government information concerning land, including land affected by government schemes or releases.
Never assume a Gazette automatically means every plot in an area is safe to buy.
EXCISION — WHERE APPLICABLE
Excision is a process through which government formally releases specified land from an acquisition/reservation, where applicable.
Check the actual excision details—not just a claim that “the land is excised.”
— TITLE VERIFICATION 🔍
This is where the real protection begins.
Verify the title with the appropriate government land registry/authority, investigate ownership, acquisition status, encumbrances and other relevant interests.
Never rely solely on photocopies or verbal assurances.
— FINAL WARNING 🚨
LAND IS NOT CHEAP IF THE TITLE IS BAD.
Before you pay:
✅ Verify the documents
✅ Confirm ownership
✅ Check acquisition status
✅ Conduct proper searches
✅ Use a qualified property lawyer
✅ Complete professional legal due diligence
