Town-send Law

21/02/2026

WEALTH LAND SERIES: THE PROPERTY COUNSEL.

Topic: Why Allocation Is Not Enough In Property Transaction.

In property transaction, allocation does NOT translate to ownership, rather it is the official assignment of a specific plot or unit of land to a buyer by the seller, or estate developer as the case maybe after payment (full or agreed part payment). It does NOT automatically transfer legal title, or the interest in the land.

Secondly, no Governor’s consent, equals no legal perfection. Under the Land Use Act Cap L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004., land is vested in the Governor of a state. Section 1 of the Act provides thus: “Subject to the provisions of this Act, all land comprised in the territory of each State in the Federation are hereby vested in the Governor of that State and such land shall be held in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians”. On the other hand, all land in the FCT (Abuja) is under the control and supervision of the President as provided under subsection 3. Therefore, without proper title processing and consent, your interest in the land is incomplete.

Allocation can be revoked especially if the purchaser fails to comply with or fulfil the terms of the covenant in the title document. For instance, where the terms stipulates that the purchaser should comply with certain payment, commence development within a specified period, process certain documentations, or fulfil certain conditions; failure to comply with any of the terms could led to revocation or withdrawal of the allocation.

Furthermore, financial institutions do not recognize allocation as sound prove of title. Therefore, you cannot easily use it as collateral, as they require perfected title.

Real ownership in property transactions requires proper documentation which includes:
1. Deed of Assignment,
2. Registered Title,
3. Certificate of Occupancy, Right of Occupancy, or proper root of title,
4. Survey Plan.
Anything less than the above is risk.

Always consult with a legal practitioner before making payment for property transaction.

Town-Send Law
House 1, B-Close Off 1st Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
[email protected]
09134356058

30/01/2026

Navigating Nigeria's ever changing real estate market?

Whether you're acquiring prime land, developing commercial properties in Abuja, or securing residential investments anywhere across the country, professional legal guidance is greatly necessary.

At Town-send Law, our dedicated Real Estate Consultancy team provides robust support at every stage of your property journey: Thorough due diligence and title verification at various agencies in charge to uncover hidden risks.
Drafting and negotiation of sale agreements, leases, mortgages, and joint venture contracts. Advisory on land use regulations, FCDA approved allocations, governor's consent as the case may be for state governments, and compliance with the Land Use Act. Handling property acquisitions, disposals, financing, and development structuring.

We combine concrete knowledge of Nigerian property law with practical, commercial insight to protect your investments and ensure smooth, secure transactions.

Ready to safeguard your next real estate move?

Contact us, call or whatsapp on 09134356058, or email at [email protected] for a confidential consultation.
Your property deserves the best protection. Let's build it right together.🤝

28/01/2026

We guide you through your property acquisition process in Abuja.

20/01/2026

19/12/2025

Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee's clarification on the new tax regime come January 2026.

16/12/2025

Contact us for all your regulatory complaince services.

10/12/2025

CAC ANNOUNCES NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR ONLINE BUSINESS NAME UPDATE.

The Corporate Affairs Commission "CAC"has announced new mandatory requirements for all Business Name Online Update requests.
In a notice titled, “Important Notice For Business Name Update”, posted on its official X handle on Wednesday 10th Dec, 2025, CAC states:
"Effective immediately, all Business Name Online Update requests must include:

-Date of Birth
-Registered Office Email
-Proprietor’s Email
-Phone Number for registered Address or Proprietor if different
-Valid Means of Identification
Please provide these details to ensure smooth processing".

The commission stated that the additional details are necessary to ensure smooth processing of update requests.