C of O vs Governor's Consent: what every diaspora buyer needs to know before sending a single naira
Most diaspora buyers who lose money to Nigerian property fraud lose it because they did not understand the difference between a Certificate of Occupancy and Governor's Consent. The two terms get used interchangeably by sellers, but they mean completely different things in Nigerian land law. A Certificate of Occupancy proves the land was originally granted by the State Governor. Governor's Consent is the legal approval required every time that land is transferred to a new owner. Without Consent, your Deed of Assignment is binding between you and the seller, but it is not perfected against the world. That distinction is what determines whether the property is yours, or whether you have just bought a long expensive lawsuit.
This article walks you through the full title chain from the 1978 Land Use Act onwards, the specific documents you should demand from any seller, the timing realities of Consent applications at the Lands Registry (3 to 6 months typical, sometimes longer), and the five red flags that should make you walk away from any transaction, no matter how good the price looks.
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