Your Easy Guide to Understanding Land Titles in Nigeria
C of O explained
Understanding property land titles
Understanding property land titles in Nigeria is the single most important step to preventing land loss, fraudulent sales, or government acquisition.
Under the Land Use Act of 1978, all land within a state's territory is vested in the State Governor, who holds it in trust for the people.
Here is a clear breakdown of how land titles work, from basic perfection stages to absolute ownership documents.
1. Primary Land Titles & Statuses
- Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)
The Certificate of Occupancy is the ultimate statutory land title issued directly by the state governor. It grants the holder official ownership and statutory right of occupancy for a renewable lease period of 99 years.
Key Feature: Proves that the land is completely free from government acquisition.
Important Rule: A governor issues only one C of O on a specific parcel of land. Any subsequent buyer of that property receives a Deed of Assignment with Governor's Consent, not a second C of O.
What You Need to Know About Excision
Excision is the legal process where a state government releases or carves out a portion of "acquired land" back to original indigenous communities or land-owning families (Omonile).
How It Works: Once an excision is granted, that specific expanse of land is officially exempt from general government acquisition, returning ownership rights back to the community for private sale.
