Transferring property in Nigeria isn’t one document — it’s a chain. To become the real, provable owner you need a signed Deed of Assignment, a charted survey plan, the seller’s original title (C of O, Governor’s Consent or Gazette), and then Governor’s Consent, stamp duty and registration in your own name. That last step — “perfection” — is what most first-time buyers skip, and it now costs roughly 4–8% of the assessed value in government fees, or about 10–15% of the price all-in. Skip it and you don’t fully own the land. (Figures at ₦1,420/$, August 2026.)
We’ve rebuilt this guide for 2026 because the cost of doing it properly jumped this year, which tempts more people to cut corners — exactly the wrong move. Here’s the thing: paying for land gets you a receipt and a handshake. It does not get you ownership the government recognises. This is the paperwork that does.
The documents you need to transfer property in Nigeria
Think of these in two groups: what you collect from the seller, and what you process into your own name afterward.
Document
What it is
Whose job
Deed of Assignment
The contract transferring the seller’s interest to you
Your lawyer drafts it
Seller’s original title
C of O, Governor’s Consent, Gazette or registered deed
Seller provides
Charted survey plan
Confirms the exact land and that it’s free of govt acquisition
Registered surveyor
Purchase receipt / evidence of payment
Proof you paid
Seller issues
Governor’s Consent
State approval required to make the transfer valid
You apply (Land Use Act)
Stamp duty & registration
Stamps and registers the deed in your name
You pay/process
The transfer process, step by step
1. Search the title first. Before money changes hands, run a search at the Lands Registry to confirm the seller actually owns the land and that it’s free of mortgage, court case or government acquisition.
2. Verify the survey on the ground. Have a surveyor chart the survey plan and check the beacons — this is how you confirm the land isn’t under acquisition or overlapping someone else’s plot.
3. Draft and sign the Deed of Assignment. Your lawyer prepares it; both parties sign; you pay and collect the seller’s original title documents.
5. Pay the statutory fees. The state assesses the value (in Lagos, using the 2026 “Blue Book”), then you pay consent, stamp duty, registration and any capital gains tax.
6. Register and collect. The deed is registered and you receive your perfected, registered title. Now you’re the owner on record.
Worth knowing: Governor’s Consent is not instant. Depending on the state and the property, it can take from a few weeks to several months. Budget the time as well as the money — and don’t let a seller rush you past it.
What most transfer guides leave out
A Deed of Assignment alone is not ownership. Without Governor’s Consent, the transfer is incomplete in the eyes of the state — you can’t cleanly sell or mortgage the land, and you’re exposed if it’s ever contested. Perfection is the point, not an optional add-on.
Family land needs every principal signatory. If you buy from a family without all the recognised family heads signing, a left-out member can challenge the sale later. One missing signature can undo the whole deal.
You may not get your “own” C of O. On estate or family land, you typically perfect via a Deed of Assignment plus Governor’s Consent on the existing global title — not a brand-new C of O in your name. Know which you’re getting before you pay.
The survey must be charted. An uncharted survey plan can hide that the land sits under government acquisition. Charting at the Surveyor-General’s office is how you find out before, not after.
Don’t pay before you’ve verified. Our free Land & Property Verification Checklist walks you through the title search, survey charting and document checks that come before any deed is signed — the steps that stop a transfer going wrong.
Government-facing perfection charges — Governor’s Consent, stamp duty, registration and CGT — run roughly 4–8% of the assessed value, and total transfer costs (with legal and due diligence) about 10–15% of the price. In Lagos these rose sharply in 2026 after the state revised its official land valuations. Fold this into your budget from the start; it’s the difference between owning land and merely occupying it.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need to transfer land ownership in Nigeria? A signed Deed of Assignment, the seller’s original title, a charted survey plan, evidence of payment, and then Governor’s Consent, stamp duty and registration processed into your name.
Is a Deed of Assignment enough to own property? No. It transfers the seller’s interest, but you still need Governor’s Consent and registration to perfect the title. Without perfection you can’t cleanly sell or mortgage it, and your ownership is legally incomplete.
How long does Governor’s Consent take? Anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the state and property. Start it as soon as the deed is signed, and treat any pressure to skip it as a red flag.
Do I need a lawyer to transfer property in Nigeria? Strongly recommended. A property lawyer runs the title search, drafts the deed correctly and handles perfection — cheap insurance against a mistake that could cost you the whole property.
Budgeting a purchase, perfection fees and all? The LON Feasibility Studio will let you model the true, all-in cost of a property — including consent and registration — before you commit. It launches soon.
