WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE BUYING LAND: UNDERSTANDING LAND DOCUMENTS.

• WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE BUYING LAND: UNDERSTANDING LAND DOCUMENTS.

LAND CLASSIFICATION: Land can be classified as either free or acquired. A parcel of land is considered free if the government has not indicated any interest whatsoever in that land, such land is safe to buy because the title on the land can be perfected without encumbrance or other impediments. Often, such lands will either have a Gazette, a C of O or a Governor’s consent. Now that you understand what it means for land to be free, you should also know that all lands that fall within areas that are designated as *”Urban areas”* are under Government acquisition until considered committed or free. There are two types of acquisition
(1). Committed Acquisition
(2). Global/General Acquisition

✳️ Committed Acquisition: is when the Government has indicated an intention/interest to use that land for a specific purpose such as provision of amenities. Such lands belong to the Government and can never be available for use by individuals. If you purchase land that is under committed acquisition, it will be impossible for you to perfect your land’s title at FCT, FCDA and you will only be occupying the land until the Government comes to eject you and other occupants. That is what is effort in futilities. Never allow the emergency Agents/Brokers push you into spending your hard earned income on wasteful adventure.

✳️Global/General Acquisition: Lands that are under “General Acquisition” or “Global Acquisition” can later be confirmed “free” or “committed” as the case may be. A land under general acquisition can become free by a process called EXCISION. “EXCISION is a process whereby the Government releases a portion of an expanse of land that is not committed” if a parcel of land that was formerly under acquisition becomes excised; it is then considered free and becomes “Gazetted”.

I’m sure you now understand these basic principles before buying landed properties. You would have also understand what it means when a land is ” free” or “committed”. You will in no doubt remember that I have mentioned the two types of acquisition. You would also recall the meaning of excision and Gazette.

Thank you for your time and do not hesitate to reach out to us at Legal Practitioners and Consultants Properties when in doubt or contemplating buying landed properties.

Bode Johnson.
For: Legal Practitioners and Consultants Properties.
www.lpc.com.ng