Buying property in Lagos: every step to a legal title
What a seller should be able to show you, where they get anything that is missing, and what you and your lawyer do once you agree terms. Every Lagos and Abuja listing on NaijaMart shows this checklist with the real status of each document.
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Buying or leasing: what the seller should show you
Ask for each of these before any money changes hands, and have your lawyer check them.
L1Survey plan · required
A survey plan drawn and signed by a surveyor registered with SURCON, showing the exact coordinates of the land. Every other check below starts from these coordinates.
Where to get it: The seller's surveyor. A surveyor's registration can be checked with the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON).
Documents that satisfy this step: Survey Plan / TDP
Law: Surveyors Council of Nigeria Act — only a registered surveyor may prepare and sign a survey plan.
Official site · Source: Mondaq — Land search and title verification in Lagos, checked 2026-09-23
L2Charting by the Surveyor-General · required
The survey plan is charted by the Office of the Surveyor-General of Lagos State. The charting report says whether the land is free, excised, or under government acquisition (committed or uncommitted), and whether the survey plan is genuine. Land under COMMITTED government acquisition cannot be listed on NaijaMart.
Where to get it: Office of the Surveyor-General of Lagos State, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
Documents that satisfy this step: Charting Report (Surveyor-General)
Law: Land Use Act 1978, s.1 — all land in the state is vested in the Governor; land the state has acquired is not the seller's to sell.
Source: Mondaq — Land search and title verification in Lagos, checked 2026-09-23
L3Land Registry search · required
A search at the Lagos Land Registry shows who the registered owner is and whether there is a mortgage, lease, caveat or government acquisition recorded against the land. It only works for land whose title has been registered.
Where to get it: Directorate of Land Registry, Lands Bureau, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
Documents that satisfy this step: Land Registry Search Report
Law: Lagos State Lands Registration Law 2015.
Fees: Search fee ₦3,750, as published by the Lands Bureau.
Official site · Source: Lagos Lands Bureau — Directorate of Land Registry, checked 2026-09-23
L4Seller's title document · required
The document that proves the seller owns what they are selling: a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), a registered Deed of Assignment with Governor's consent, or — for family or community land — the excision gazette and the family's registered conveyance.
Where to get it: The seller. Its details should match the Land Registry search (L3).
Documents that satisfy this step: Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) · Governor's Consent · Deed of Assignment · Excision Gazette / Family Conveyance
Law: Land Use Act 1978, ss.5 and 9 (grant of rights of occupancy and certificates of occupancy).
Source: Lagos Lands Bureau — Governor's Consent, checked 2026-09-23
L5Land Use Charge receipts · recommended
Receipts showing Land Use Charge on the property is paid up to date. Unpaid charge stays with the property.
Where to get it: The seller (Lagos State Land Use Charge bills and receipts).
Documents that satisfy this step: Land Use Charge Receipt
Law: Lagos State Land Use Charge Law 2020.
Source: Lagos State Land Use Charge Law 2020, checked 2026-09-23
L6Building approval (built property) · recommended
For a building, the planning permit issued for it. A building put up without approval can be sealed or demolished. Bare land has none.
Where to get it: The seller. Permits are issued by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA).
Documents that satisfy this step: Building / Development Approval
Law: Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010.
Official site · Source: Lagos State e-Planning Permit (LASPPPA), checked 2026-09-23
L9Agent registered with LASRERA · recommended
If an agent is marketing the property, they should be registered with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority. LASRERA's website has a search to check an agent.
Where to get it: The agent. Check them on the LASRERA website.
Documents that satisfy this step: Agent LASRERA Registration
Law: Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority Law 2022.
Official site · Source: LASRERA, checked 2026-09-23
Land status on NaijaMart
NaijaMart records the result of the charting (Lagos) or AGIS (Abuja) check on every listing. Land under committed government acquisition, or with a revoked title, cannot be listed.
- Land is free of government acquisition
- Excised land (released from acquisition)
- Under uncommitted government acquisition — ratification needed
- Under committed government acquisition — cannot be listed
- Title revoked — cannot be listed
After you agree terms: you and your lawyer
L10Contract of sale and Deed of Assignment
Your lawyer drafts a contract of sale, then a Deed of Assignment that transfers the seller's interest to you. Both sides sign, and the deed is stamped.
Where to get it: Your lawyer.
Law: Land Use Act 1978, s.22 (the transfer needs the Governor's consent — next step).
Source: Lagos Lands Bureau — Governor's Consent, checked 2026-09-23
L11Governor's consent
The Governor must consent to the transfer. Your lawyer applies to the Directorate of Land Services; the Lands Bureau issues a demand notice based on the assessed market value, and once it is paid the consent is endorsed on the deed.
Where to get it: Directorate of Land Services, Lands Bureau, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
- Completed Land Form 1C
- Certified true copy of the seller's root of title
- The Deed of Assignment (3 copies) with survey plans attached
- 4 passport photographs (white background)
- Dated site photographs and a site location sketch
- For a company: certificate of incorporation and particulars of directors
- Covering letter with phone number and email
Law: Land Use Act 1978, s.22 — a right of occupancy cannot be transferred without the Governor's consent; s.26 — a transfer made without it is void.
Fees: Filing ₦10,500 (charting, endorsement and Form 1C), then a demand notice of about 3% of the assessed value: consent fee 1.5%, capital gains tax 0.5%, stamp duty 0.5%, registration 0.5% — as published by the Lands Bureau. Your demand notice is final.
Official site · Source: Lagos Lands Bureau — Governor's Consent, checked 2026-09-23
L12Register the deed
The consented deed is registered at the Land Registry, so the Registry shows the title in your name.
Where to get it: Directorate of Land Registry, Lands Bureau, Alausa, Ikeja.
Law: Lagos State Lands Registration Law 2015.
Official site · Source: Lagos Lands Bureau — Directorate of Land Registry, checked 2026-09-23
Renting or shortlet: what the landlord should show you
L7Owner's authority to let · required
Proof that the person letting the property owns it, or has the owner's written authority to let it: a title document, a letter of authority, or a power of attorney from the owner.
Where to get it: The landlord or the agent.
Documents that satisfy this step: Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) · Governor's Consent · Deed of Assignment · Owner's Letter of Authority · Power of Attorney
Source: Mondaq — Land search and title verification in Lagos, checked 2026-09-23
L8Tenancy agreement and advance-rent limits · recommended
A written tenancy agreement. Under the Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011, a landlord or agent may not demand more than one year's rent in advance from a new tenant; from a sitting tenant, not more than 6 months for a monthly tenancy or 1 year for a yearly tenancy. The law does not apply to premises in Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria Island.
Where to get it: The landlord or the agent.
Documents that satisfy this step: Tenancy Agreement
Law: Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011.
Source: Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011 (Official Gazette), checked 2026-09-23
L9Agent registered with LASRERA · recommended
If an agent is marketing the property, they should be registered with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority. LASRERA's website has a search to check an agent.
Where to get it: The agent. Check them on the LASRERA website.
Documents that satisfy this step: Agent LASRERA Registration
Law: Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority Law 2022.
Official site · Source: LASRERA, checked 2026-09-23
A guide to the published process, not legal advice. Fees are as published by the named offices; your demand notice or bill is final. Sources checked 2026-09-23.
