A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) entrusts the legal rights to you as the owner of a property in Lagos State of Nigeria. Having this certification also increases your chances of getting refunds and or compensations if the government takes over the land.

In this article, we make you understand the concept of C of O, and how it comes in handy in boosting your property ownership claims in Lagos State.

Important Points about C of O

The Certificate of Occupancy or C of O is a legal document stating your ownership of a property. You typically get it after completing a property purchase. Your real estate company or direct seller should provide you with it.

Here are some important points worth noting:

  • This certificate, as per the provisions of the Land Use Act of 1978, can only be issued by the Governor of the State where it is located, in this case, Lagos State of Nigeria.
  • The Certificate of Occupancy grants the certificate holder the right to own the land for a period of 99 years.
  • Having this certificate is a good way to verify the freedom of a property from government acquisition.
  • It is a valid document aiding a reduction in fraudulent land ownership claims. Reason? Because a land can only have one Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).

Characteristics of the C of O in Lagos

The properties or details found in the certificate include:

  • The Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) number
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Plot number
  • The purpose for which the land is intended
  • Initial annual ground rent fees
  • File number
  • Lease term
  • Location of the land
  • Date of issuing the Certificate of Occupancy
  • Size of the plot (of land) and;
  • Survey plan for the land.

Requirements for Obtaining the Certificate of Occupancy in Lagos

When ready, here are some of the requirements and documents expected of you to provide when applying for the C of O.

  • A formal letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of Land Use and Allocation Block. The address to use is Block 13, Room 4, Lands Bureau, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
  • Vital Information Form
  • Standard Allocation Form with the Receipt. Lekki Pennisula Schemes, Abijo Commercial and Industrial (Form for the Prime Land) and other areas (Form for General).
  • Evidence of paying the Income Tax
  • Four (4) passport photographs (with a white background)
  • A Survey Plan for the land
  • Current Development Levy. If the property belongs to a company, then evidence of payment of Income Tax is required for Two Directors, as well as the Development Levy.
  • All receipts confirming the payment of all Land Charges.
  • Sketch map of the land’s location.
  • If the land is already occupied, you will be asked to provide the Copy of Tenement Rate Receipt.
  • Duly-stamped purchase receipt of the land.

Processes to Obtaining the Certificate of Occupancy in Lagos

When you’ve had all the required documentations; it will be time to proceed with applying for the C of O. Here are the processes:

1. Obtain the Form

You will obtain the application form from either the Ministry (Land Use and Allocation Commission (LUAC) – or by downloading it from the website.

When done filing the form, you are to submit it with these details:

  • 3 passport photographs.
  • Receipt of paying the application fees for the allocated land. This must be paid within 90 days. The fee is 5,000 Naira for residential land use and 10,000 Naira for commercial land use.
  • Tax clearance or evidence of being domiciled abroad.

2. Collect these Details

You will collect the following:

  • Acknowledgement slip as evidence of payment.
  • Receipt of paying the application fees.
  • Collect the Letter of Allocation and;
  • Get the Letter of Confirmation. This contains the block number and plot of the land.

3. Wait for Processing

At this point, you will wait for your application for a Certificate of Occupancy to be processed. These are the procedures:

  • The process will be handled by a Scheme Officer. He or she signs off on the file, before forwarding it to the Executive Secretary of Land Use Allocation Commission (LUAC).
  • The Scheme Officer will receive a digitized copy of the land’s Survey Plan.
  • The LUAC’s Executive Secretary will approve of the application and follow it up by signing the Letter of Allocation.
  • The Executive Secretary will also sign off on the file, before forwarding it to the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Lands.
  • The SSA confirms the information in the file, before attaching a covering memo to it – and having it forwarded to the Permanent Secretary at the Lands Bureau.
  • The Permanent Secretary, after a careful observation of the file, signs off on the memo and forwards it to the State Governor.
  • The Governor approves of the file/application and makes an electronic signing off the file.
  • The Governor forwards the file to the Deputy Registrar, who handles the further processing and on completion, signs off on it and has it sent to the Registrar of Titles.
  • After registering the Certificate of Occupancy, the Registrar of Titles will sign off on it and request the printing of the certificate.

How Much Does the Certificate of Occupancy Cost in Lagos?

While the location (State) where the land is located influences the cost of getting the C of O; other factors also come in.

For example, in Lagos State, here are the fees you are to pay:

  • Payment of 5,000 Naira to obtain the C of O form for residential land use and 10,000 Naira if it is for commercial purposes.
  • Capital Contribution Fee: a minimum of 30,000 Naira.
  • Publication Fee: 10,000 Naira.

Other factors that influence the cost of getting a Certificate of Occupancy in Lagos are:

  • The Fair Market Value (FMV) of the land and;
  • Calculating the cost of registration, per Square Meter (sqm) of the land.

Also:

Conclusion

Getting a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in Lagos helps to validate your proof of owning the land. The process can take up to 30 days.

To be on a safer side, avoid some of the factors that could reduce the speed of getting the certificate. Hence, provide the accurate address, pay the required fees on time and ensure that all the necessary details are provided, when required. You can also check out everything you need to know about Governor’s Consent as a land title in Lagos State.

Would you like to buy land or house in Epe, Ajah, Lekki, Ibeju-Lekki or anywhere in Nigeria? Reach out to us on +234 806 400 3456 or send an email to support@godslandempire.com. We are ever ready to assist you on your property ownership journey in Nigeria.