PAYMENT FOR LAND IS NOT OWNERSHIP

PAYMENT FOR LAND IS NOT OWNERSHIP

Paid for land? It’s not yours yet.

So you’ve handed over millions of naira, signed a receipt and posed for pictures on the land. But guess what? That land may still legally belong to someone else.

In Nigeria, many land buyers confuse payment with ownership. It’s a dangerous assumption; one that has cost countless Nigerians huge money.

The harsh truth is this: until you’ve completed key legal steps, all you’ve done is fund a potential lawsuit or land dispute.

Payment is only the beginning. To truly own land, you must verify the seller’s ownership, conduct a proper legal search and ensure there are no issues, court orders or government interests.

Next, you need a properly drafted land purchase document (Deed of Conveyance/Assignment) signed, witnessed and registered at the land registry.

Many buyers stop at receipt and shake hands. Some skip the survey plan or don’t confirm the land’s usage regulations. Others don’t bother with Certificate of Occupancy – a legal requirement for perfecting ownership.

Land doesn’t forgive ignorance. Wishful thinking won’t count against another properly documented buyer.

Don’t just pay and pray. Protect your investment.

Engage a Property Lawyer from the start. Land ownership doesn’t go to the first to pay;  it goes to the best prepared.
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APEX CHAMBERS, Property/Real Estate & Business Lawyers, Attorneys, Barristers and Legal Practitioners with Law Offices in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria

Phone: +234(0)7030868694 (Calls & Whatsapp)
Email: info@apexchambersglobal.com
Website: www.apexchambersglobal.com