Understand Nigerian land law before you buy
Most land losses in Nigeria come down to a few misunderstood documents. These plain-English guides explain exactly what to check — so you can buy, sell and verify land with confidence.
Guides
The Land Use Act 1978 — who really owns land in Nigeria
The single most important law behind every land deal in Nigeria, explained simply.
4 min read · Read guide →Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) explained
What a C of O is, what it proves, and what it does not.
4 min read · Read guide →Governor's Consent — the step most buyers skip (and regret)
Why a resale of titled land isn't truly yours until the Governor consents.
4 min read · Read guide →Deed of Assignment vs C of O — what each one does
The document that actually transfers ownership between buyer and seller.
3 min read · Read guide →Survey plans — proving exactly which land you're buying
How a registered survey plan pins down boundaries and reveals government acquisition.
3 min read · Read guide →Excision & Gazette — how family land becomes safe to buy
The paperwork that proves the government has released land to a community or family.
4 min read · Read guide →'Omo Onile' & family land — buying without getting trapped
How to deal with family-land sellers and self-styled land guardians safely.
4 min read · Read guide →The buyer's due-diligence checklist (before you pay a kobo)
A practical, step-by-step list to run on any land before parting with money.
5 min read · Read guide →Glossary — key land terms
- Right of Occupancy
- The legal right to occupy and use land for a set period (often up to 99 years) — what you actually acquire, since the Governor holds the land.
- Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)
- Government-issued proof of a statutory right of occupancy over a specific plot.
- Governor's Consent
- The Governor's approval required to make a transfer of a right of occupancy valid ('perfected').
- Deed of Assignment
- The legal document that transfers land ownership from a seller to a buyer.
- Survey Plan
- A licensed surveyor's map of a plot's exact boundaries, size and coordinates, with a registration number.
- Excision
- The government formally releasing a portion of land back to a community or family.
- Gazette
- The official government publication recording an excision (village names and acreage released).
- Government Acquisition
- Land the government has taken or committed for public use — risky to buy, as it can be reclaimed.
- Perfection
- Completing stamping, registration and Governor's Consent so your title is fully valid and enforceable.
- Omo Onile
- Indigenous land-owning families (and their agents); associated with family-land sales and levy disputes.
Ready to check a real plot?
Knowledge is step one. PlotSur lets you verify documents, confirm ownership, and catch double-sales before you pay — and connect with vetted lawyers and surveyors.
These guides are general education, not legal advice. Land law varies by state and changes over time — always consult a qualified Nigerian property lawyer before acting.