Land transactions in Kaduna State are governed by the Land Use Act 1978, and every serious purchase should start with title verification at the Ministry of Lands and Survey. Skip this step and you risk buying land that is subject to government acquisition, an unpaid ground rent, or worse — a fraudulent deed.
1. Ask for the seller’s title documents
The seller should produce either a Certificate of Occupancy, a Right of Occupancy, a registered Deed of Assignment, or a Governor’s Consent. Anything else — receipts, family agreements, oral history — is not proof of title.
2. Conduct a search at the Ministry of Lands
File a formal search application against the plot. The Registry will confirm whether the title exists, is registered, and matches the description on the seller’s papers. Turnaround is typically 5 to 10 working days.
3. Physical inspection with a surveyor
Visit the land with a licensed surveyor. Confirm the boundaries match the survey plan attached to the title. Talk to neighbours — they often reveal disputes that never made it to the Registry.
4. Check for government acquisition
Some land is subject to state or federal acquisition. A search at the Ministry will confirm.
5. Confirm ground rent and taxes are up to date
Outstanding ground rent transfers with the land. Insist on receipts up to the current year.
6. Draft the Deed of Assignment
Engage a legal practitioner to draft the deed. Do not sign templates downloaded from the internet — they are the leading cause of avoidable land disputes.
7. Governor’s Consent + registration
Under the Land Use Act, transfers require Governor’s Consent. Once granted, register the deed at the Land Registry. Only then is the title legally transferred.
Bottom line
Do not skip any of the seven. Every year we see buyers who tried to save the ~₦250,000 legal cost, only to spend ten times that in litigation two years later.