One thing every smart investor should understand before paying for land in Nigeria is the land title.
Your land title determines how legally secure your property is — and whether your investment is safe or risky!
Let’s break it down clearly
FREEHOLD
This means total ownership — the land belongs completely to the buyer.
However, true freehold is rare today because the Land Use Act of 1978 vested all land in each state under the Governor’s authority.
EXCISION
When a community’s land has been acquired by the government, the people can apply for a portion to be released back to them.
That released portion is called Excision and it means the land is free from acquisition.
GAZETTE
A Gazette is an official government record showing the areas that have been excised.
If the land you’re buying falls inside a gazetted area, it’s considered safe and legitimate.
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY (C of O)
This is one of the strongest land titles in Nigeria.
It shows that the government has officially granted the right to occupy and use that land for 99 years.
With a C of O, your ownership is recognized by law.
