Excision & Gazette — how family land becomes safe to buy
4 min read
The paperwork that proves the government has released land to a community or family.
Key points
- ✓ Excision is the government formally releasing a portion of land to a community/family.
- ✓ The Gazette is the official published record of that excision.
- ✓ Land outside a gazetted excision is land the government has not released — buy with extreme caution.
What excision means
After the Land Use Act, much community land technically fell under government control. Excision is the process by which the government formally releases a defined portion back to the original community or family.
The Gazette is the official government publication that records this — listing the villages and the acreage excised.
Why it protects you
If you buy land within a gazetted excision, you're buying land the government has formally released — greatly reducing the risk of future acquisition.
Land outside the gazetted excision boundaries has not been released, no matter what a family or agent tells you. This is one of the most important checks in areas like Lagos.
What to ask for
Ask for the excision number and gazette details, then verify that the specific plot's coordinates fall inside the gazetted area — using a licensed surveyor.
A C of O or a valid excision-and-gazette are the two strongest defences against later claims.
Put this into practice
Verify documents, confirm ownership and catch double-sales on PlotSur — or hire a vetted lawyer or surveyor.