ONYXOperating in NigeriaEnter Terminal
← All operating procedures
Land & premisesReal estateNigeria

Perfect a land title (C of O / Governor's Consent)

Perfect ownership of land under the Land Use Act 1978, which vests all land in the state Governor. A first grant produces a Certificate of Occupancy; every subsequent transfer requires the Governor's Consent, obtained from the state Lands Bureau: search → Form 1C application → charting & assessment → pay consent/capital-gains/stamp/registration fees → consent endorsed and deed registered.

Procedure
4steps
Coordination
4agencies
Category
Land & premisesReal estate
Task links

Go to the exact next page

Application, requirements, forms, fees, and tracking are labelled separately.

RequirementsDownload the Lagos Governor’s Consent procedureLagos State Government · lagos.ebs-rcm.comLagos example — land-title perfection is administered by each state.Apply onlineOpen the Lagos land-title application portalLagos State Surveyor General · lagossurveyor.ebs-rcm.comUse for Lagos property; select the relevant land instrument.⚠ this source uses an invalid security certificate — your browser may warn youApply onlineOpen the Lagos land regularisation deskLagos Lands Bureau · lmpd.lagosstate.gov.ngFor regularisation or Right of Occupancy cases in Lagos.
Routing map

Who you will deal with

State Lands Bureau / Ministry of LandsLands Registry; solicitorState Lands Bureau (Land Services Department)State Lands Bureau; state internal revenue service
Procedure

The steps, in order

Each route below is scoped to the step it can actually complete.

  1. 01

    Identify which instrument you need

    Agency
    State Lands Bureau / Ministry of Lands
    What is required
    Under the Land Use Act 1978 all land is vested in the state Governor in trust for the people. A first statutory grant produces a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). Any subsequent transfer of land already covered by a C of O requires the Governor's Consent - a transfer without it is inchoate.
    Documents
    Root of title (C of O, deed, excision/gazette)
    Typical timeline
    Precondition
    Use for this step
  2. 02

    Conduct a search and prepare the instrument

    Agency
    Lands Registry; solicitor
    What is required
    Conduct an official search at the Lands Registry to confirm the root title and encumbrances. Prepare the Deed of Assignment (or other instrument of transfer) with the approved survey plan attached.
    Documents
    Search report; Deed of Assignment (3 copies); survey plan
    Typical timeline
    Days-weeks
    Use for this step
  3. 03

    File the consent application

    Agency
    State Lands Bureau (Land Services Department)
    What is required
    File Land Form 1C with a Certified True Copy of the root title, three copies of the deed with clear approved survey plans attached, and four passport photographs of the vendor. The file goes for charting, then to the Land Services Department for assessment.
    Documents
    Land Form 1C; CTC of root title; deeds; survey plans; vendor passports
    Typical timeline
    Weeks-months
    Use for this step
  4. 04

    Pay the assessed fees; consent and registration

    Agency
    State Lands Bureau; state internal revenue service
    What is required
    Pay the assessed charges - consent fee, capital gains tax, stamp duty and registration fee (rates are set per state). Once payments are confirmed, the Land Services Department sends the file to a designated commissioner who grants the Consent on the Governor's behalf; the deed is then stamped and registered at the Lands Registry.
    Documents
    Consent fee; CGT; stamp duty; registration fee
    Typical timeline
    Months (state-dependent)
    Use for this step
Land & premises
ConstructionObtain a building plan / planning permit (state)ConstructionRegister as a builder (CORBON)EnvironmentObtain a borehole / water-use permit (NIWRMC)EnvironmentObtain a waste-management (NESREA) permitEnvironmentObtain an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificateReal estateRegister as a real-estate practitioner (LASRERA/REDAN)