A Detailed Step By Step Guide To Verify Any Land In Nigeria Like A Pro

Описание: After my previous video where I talked about where to go for your property verification, many people have been asking about what they should be looking out for

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After someone tells you about a property, the first thing to check is the Survey Plan.

This document shows the exact size, shape, and location of the land but more importantly, it helps you find out whether the land is free or under government control.

Here’s what to confirm:

Is the land under government acquisition?

Is it committed land (reserved for a government project)?

Has it been excised (released back to the community)?

Is it inside a government scheme?

To find out, take the Survey Plan to the Office of the Surveyor General in your state. In Lagos, this is at Alausa, Ikeja.

They’ll do what’s called a Charting Process entering the land’s beacon numbers and coordinates into their system. This check shows the current status of the land and whether it’s safe to buy.

If something is wrong with the land, this step usually reveals it.



Verify Title Documents (C of O, Gazette, etc.)
Seeing a land document is not enough. You need to check that it’s real, valid, and matches the land being sold.

Whether the seller presents a:

Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)

Gazette

Governor’s Consent

Registered Deed of Assignment

You must do a Title Search at the Land Registry in your state. In Lagos, that’s the Lagos State Lands Bureau.

Here’s what they’ll check:

If the document is genuine

If the details (owner’s name, location, file number) match what you were told

If there are any issues like court cases, unpaid fees, or multiple claims on the land (known as encumbrances)

Tip: Don’t do this alone. Use a real estate lawyer or a trusted professional to help you carry out the title search properly. This is not the time to take risks.



Confirm Ownership Claims
You’ve checked the land. You’ve checked the title. Now, it’s time to confirm that the person selling it actually owns it.

If the land belongs to a family or community, make sure:

You’re dealing with the right people: family heads, principal members, or trustees

All the necessary signatories are involved

You meet them in person, not just through agents

They introduce you to other buyers or neighbouring landowners, so there’s no confusion about boundaries or past disputes

If it’s a company or estate, ask to see:

Their CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) registration

The company’s own land documents

Their allocation letter or deed if they’re selling land on behalf of someone else

Don’t rely on smooth talk. If they can’t show proof, that’s your sign to pause and investigate.



Investigate the Property’s Background
Even if the documents check out, the land could still have problems hiding in its history. This is where you need to do a bit of detective work.

Ask these questions:

Has the land been sold before?

Are there multiple people claiming it?

Is there any ongoing dispute, police matter, or court case?

Is there pending compensation or unresolved ownership issues?

Sometimes, the real truth about the land isn’t on paper, it’s in the community.

So:

Talk to neighbours and nearby landowners.

Visit the land more than once, at different times of the day.

Look for red flags like warning signs, disclaimer notices, or multiple fences.

Many buyers have been scammed with perfect documents but bad history. Don’t skip this step, it could save you everything.





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