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.