The Role of the Lagos State Land Registry in Land Procurement

The need for effective and efficient land registration is obvious and has several benefits that it brings to a nation at large.

From experiences and studies so far, we have seen and have been shown the importance of effective land registration and how it contributes to the overall economic development of a nation.

Using Lagos state as a case study, let’s go over the role the registry plays in land procurement.

What is Land Registration?

Land registration simply refers to the process of recording legally acquired or in-use land property. It ensures that the rights subsisting on land are guaranteed.  Land registration helps to formalize land/property rights which in return helps to facilitate the security of the rights.

Lagos State Land Registry

The land registry is a unit under the Lagos State Land Bureau. It has one of the oldest land registration documents from 1863 during the colonial era when Lagos state was governed alongside Ghana.

Plus, it is the only government agency that is authorized by law to store registered documents related to land according to the Lagos State Lands Registration Law 2015.

Procedure of Land Registration in Lagos State

Registering land in Lagos State land requires at least 12 procedures and these procedures are performed by at least six (6) agencies. This includes the Land Registry, Directorate of Land Services, Surveyor General’s Office, Stamp Duties Office, and possibly a surveyor or any land-allied professional.

Step 1

First, the buyer/owner makes an application for the property title search to the Land Registry to confirm that there are valid rights to the property.

Step 2

The respective parties involved in the registration that is the assignor and assignee have to execute a Deed of Assignment and the Land Form 1C. The deed of assignment is simply a legal instrument for communicating property rights from one person to another. The Land Form 1C is a type of document obtained from the land registry to be signed by both parties and authenticated.

When this is completed, the applicant makes an application to the land registry to obtain certified copies of the title document or survey plan attached with a sworn affidavit to help support the application.  Upon receiving the certified copies, the applicant can pay the necessary charges to accredited banks provided by the Lagos State Land Registry. 

Step 3

After the payment has been confirmed, receipts are issued by the bank and are submitted along with the application for Governor’s consent to the Directorate of Land Services.

A reference number is always given to the applicant before submission. Charting of the survey plan takes place at the Surveyor general’s office. This is to ensure that the survey plan is done in accordance with the survey rules. Also, that the property is free from any liability and for the advertisement for application of Certificate of Occupancy. 

Where a survey plan doesn’t meet the expected requirements, a notice of query is issued and sent to the applicant with a demand notice of the fees to be paid. The payments are made and should be presented at the land registry.

Step 4

After the confirmation of payment of the fees, the file containing documents of the property is sent to the authorized personnel to grant the Governor’s consent.

The consented Deed is handed over to the applicant who will proceed to stamp the Deeds at the Stamp Duties Registry and a follow-up filing of the Deed into the Land Registry.

Conclusion

For every land registration to be effectively and efficiently accessed properly by the Land Registry. The entire process of registration takes about 120 days to complete and receive the Governor’s consent. The collection of the certificate of Occupancy is between 9 months to 3 years. These processes are in place to maintain the security of the land and also save the owner from liabilities.