Buying Land in Nigeria From Abroad: Verify the Title First

The short answer

—Never pay because of photos, a WhatsApp video or a relative’s word. Pay only after a lawyer’s written search report.
—Two checks matter most: survey charting (is the land under government acquisition?) and the Lands Registry title search (who owns it, any encumbrances?).
—Family land needs proof of excision and a Gazette number.
—After buying, perfect your title: in Lagos that means Governor’s Consent registered in your name.

The title documents you will hear about

Nigerian land title documents
Document	What it is	Why it matters
Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)	The state’s grant of a statutory right of occupancy under the Land Use Act 1978.	The strongest title for a first owner. Check it is genuine and in the seller’s name.
Governor’s Consent	The governor’s consent to a transfer of land that already has a C of O (Land Use Act, s.22).	If the seller bought from someone else, their title is only perfected with consent.
Deed of Assignment	The contract transferring the land from seller to buyer.	Must be stamped and registered, and later perfected with Governor’s Consent.
Registered survey plan	A plan by a registered surveyor showing boundaries and coordinates, with a survey number.	Needed to chart the land. No survey number means it cannot be checked.
Excision and Gazette	Government release of family/community land from acquisition, published in the Gazette.	Family land without excision may still belong to the state.

How to verify land in Lagos, step by step

1
Get copies of the documents
Survey plan (with survey number and surveyor’s name), C of O or other root of title, and the seller’s deed. A genuine seller provides these before any payment.
2
Chart the survey plan
At the Office of the Surveyor-General, Lagos. The result says whether the land is free of government acquisition, inside committed acquisition, or inside uncommitted acquisition.
3
Search the title at the Lands Registry
At the Lands Registry, Alausa, against the title number. It reveals the registered owner and any mortgage, caution or pending court case (lis pendens).
4
Check family land is excised and gazetted
Ask for the Gazette number and confirm the plot sits inside the excised area.
5
Inspect the land in person (or by proxy you trust)
Confirm beacons match the survey, nobody else is in possession, and the area does not flood. We can do this as part of a site assessment.
6
Lawyer’s written report, then pay
Pay only into the account named in the lawyer-verified documents, never to an agent’s personal account, and get a stamped receipt and deed.

Buying from the UK, US or Canada

Instruct a Nigerian property lawyer before any deposit. They run the searches and draft the deed.
Use a specific power of attorney if someone must sign for you: limited to this transaction, registered, and revoked afterwards.
Send money last, and directly. Confirm the bank account by phone with the lawyer, not by email or WhatsApp, which can be hacked.
Visit or send an independent professional. A relative is not a substitute for a surveyor or engineer.
Budget for title perfection: Governor’s Consent, stamp duty and registration fees are paid by the buyer in Lagos.

What it costs and how long it takes

Official search and charting fees in Lagos usually run to tens of thousands of naira, depending on the land size and document type, and change yearly; your lawyer’s fee is separate. A straightforward search takes a few working days to two weeks. Perfecting title (Governor’s Consent) takes longer and costs more; ask your lawyer for a written quote.

Before you build: what we check on the land

Soil test, so the foundation is designed for the ground (reclaimed or waterlogged land needs a raft or piles).
Setbacks and building lines for the plot, so the design gets a permit.
Access for trucks and materials, drainage and flood history.
Estate rules and levies where the plot is inside an estate.

Questions people ask

How do I verify land title in Nigeria?

Have a lawyer chart the survey plan at the state Surveyor-General’s office and search the title at the Lands Registry, then inspect the land. In Lagos these show the owner, any government acquisition, mortgages and court cases.

What is a C of O in Nigeria?

A Certificate of Occupancy is the state government’s grant of a statutory right of occupancy over land under the Land Use Act 1978. It is the strongest form of land title for the person it is issued to.

What is the difference between a C of O and Governor’s Consent?

A C of O is issued to the first holder. When that land is sold on, the buyer needs the governor’s consent to the transfer to perfect their title.

Can I buy land in Nigeria while living abroad?

Yes. Instruct a Nigerian property lawyer, verify the title before paying, and use a registered, limited power of attorney if someone must sign for you.

How long does a land search take in Lagos?

Usually from a few working days to two weeks for a straightforward search.

Sources and how we checked

Land Use Act 1978 (Cap L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) (section 22 on consent to transfers)
Mondaq — The process for conducting search and verifying land titles in Lagos
Bektu — How to conduct a land title search at the Lagos Lands Registry (2026) (June 2026)