Property disputes in Lagos are rarely about a bad house — they're about a title that was never properly checked. Land bought without verification can turn out to be under government acquisition, sold twice by different "owners," or subject to a family or community claim that surfaces only after money has changed hands.
Start with a search at the Land Registry
Before any payment is made, a search should be conducted at the relevant Lagos State Land Registry to confirm the seller's name on the title matches the person selling, that there are no existing encumbrances (mortgages, liens, or caveats) on the property, and that the land is not marked under government acquisition.
Confirm the type of title
Not all documents mean the same thing. A Certificate of Occupancy, a Deed of Assignment, and a Governor's Consent each play a different role, and a seller who only has one of these may not be able to lawfully transfer the property. Confirming which documents actually exist — and whether they're genuine — is a core part of due diligence.
Governor's consent
Under the Land Use Act, most transfers of land held under a Certificate of Occupancy in Nigeria require the Governor's consent to be valid. A sale completed without this consent can be challenged later, even years after the buyer has taken possession.
"Omo onile" claims and community-level disputes are far easier to resolve before a purchase than after.
Watch for community and family claims
In parts of Lagos, land sold by an individual family member without the consent of the wider family, or land claimed by a community group ("omo onile"), can lead to disputes long after a sale. Verifying the chain of ownership — not just the most recent transaction — helps surface these risks early.
Before you pay a deposit
A short due diligence exercise — search, document verification, and a physical inspection — before any deposit is paid is the single most effective way to avoid a property dispute in Lagos.
Get a title verified