Documents to Ask for When Buying Land Anywhere in Nigeria

There are a number of crucial documents to ask for when you buying a land in Nigeria. These documents are listed below.

1. Approved survey plan

2. Approved layout

3. Power of Attorney

4. Deed of assignment

5. Certificate of Occupancy ( C of O)

Lands can be bought from an estate developer, an individual or directly from the family who claims to own the land. When dealing with an estate developer (buying within an estate), you should ask for the approved survey plan, approved layout, the power of attorney and the global C of O. If you are buying from an individual or company, you should ask for a purchase receipt, deed of assignment, approved survey plan and C of O.

Buying directly from the family who claims to own the land is quite tricky. This is because it is difficult to determine the true owner(s) of the land especially when the documents showing ownership haven’t been processed. In a situation like this, the prospective buyer should request for an evidence of ownership before purchasing the property.

When the documents have been processed, a buyer should request for an approved survey plan, approved layout, a Deed of Assignment or a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).

It is very important that you have a good property lawyer before embarking on a land purchase. This is because a lawyer ensures you don’t run into legal trouble with land documents after purchase. It’s your lawyer’s job to verify the authenticity of any title documents on the land

PROPERTY SEARCH
Under the Lagos State Land Bureau:

Conducting a Search:

• Application submitted with affidavit of purpose (searches are conducted using the following criteria: – Name of Owner, Registration Particulars, Address of Property and Survey Plan.
• Letter of Authority (where applicable)
• Endorsement
• Bill for payment of Search Fees
• Tender Tellers
• Conduct Search

Work Flow for Registration of Title:

• Confirmation of all payment receipt (by Accounts Department)
• Collection of Form A13 from the Office of Registrar of Titles by Applicant – 1 day
• Duly completed Form A13 with supporting documents are submitted by Applicant to the Office of the Registrar of Titles
• A registration number & application number are issued to a certified application – 1 day
• Notice are prepared for interested parties signatures
• Reply to Notice is received and Draft Entries prepared
• An approved Notice is e-mailed /posted by registered post to applicant
• Prepared Notice are forwarded to Registrar of Titles for approval of issuance of Notice to Applicant
• Approval of Draft Entries
• Typing & Binding of Title
• Final Indexing of Title
• File is sent via the Deputy Registrar of Titles to ROT for signature
• Registered Title delivered to applicant

Work Flow for Registration of Deeds

• Submission of Application with relevant documents for registration of Deed by Applicants
• Application with accompanying documents are checked and endorsed
• Satisfied application/document are issued with registration number
• Application sent for indexing
• Applicant file is send to Deputy Registrar of Titles for signature
• File is sent to Registrar of Titles for second signature
• Registered Deed is delivered

Work Flow for Registration of Certificate of Occupancy

• Certificate of Occupancy is sent with a covering letter from LUAD to Office of Registrar of Titles
• The file is sent to the C of O room to add a file jacket to the C of O Form
• C of O is sent to the Deputy Registrar of Titles for signature
• C of O is sent to Registrar of Titles for second signature
• The details of registered C of O is entered serially in a day book
• The registered C of O is entered is a dispatch book and sent to LUAD for collection by applicants