A Public Awareness Presentation for Property Buyers and Investors

Prepared for ABAMATH Global Company Limited

Website: abamathglobal.com

INTRODUCTION

Land acquisition remains one of the most important investments for individuals, families, professionals, and Nigerians in the diaspora. However, many people lose substantial amounts of money due to poor land verification, fraudulent transactions, environmental hazards, defective titles, and unsuitable construction sites.

This presentation is intended to educate property buyers, investors, developers, and diaspora Nigerians on how to safely purchase land in Nigeria while avoiding common mistakes that lead to financial loss, litigation, structural failure, flooding, demolition, and future development problems.

The objective is to promote safe, informed, and professionally guided land acquisition practices.

WHY LAND VERIFICATION IS IMPORTANT

Before purchasing any land in Nigeria, proper verification must be conducted. Failure to carry out due diligence may result in:

• Purchase of government-acquired land
• Buying land under litigation
• Multiple sales of the same property
• Purchase of flood-prone land
• Structural foundation failure
• Demolition by government authorities
• Encroachment into utility corridors
• Disputes with local communities or families
• Inability to secure building approval
• Financial losses and prolonged court cases

Land verification is therefore not optional; it is a critical professional and legal process.

BASIC LAND VERIFICATION CHECKLIST

1. VERIFY THE SURVEY PLAN

A registered survey plan is one of the first documents to examine.

The survey plan helps to:

• Confirm the exact location of the land
• Determine boundaries and coordinates
• Verify whether the land falls under government acquisition
• Confirm whether the land overlaps roads, utility corridors, or waterways

The survey should be checked by a licensed surveyor.

2. VERIFY TITLE DOCUMENTS

Valid title documents commonly used in Nigeria include:

• Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)
• Governor’s Consent
• Registered Deed of Assignment
• Gazette and Excision
• Registered Conveyance

Buyers should ensure that all title documents are genuine, traceable, and properly registered.

3. CONDUCT LAND REGISTRY SEARCH

A land registry search helps to:

• Confirm true ownership
• Verify authenticity of title documents
• Detect encumbrances or pending disputes
• Confirm whether the property has already been sold or mortgaged

This process should be handled by a competent property lawyer.

4. PHYSICAL SITE INSPECTION

Never buy land without physical inspection.

Site inspection helps buyers assess:

• Accessibility of the site
• Existing development within the area
• Flooding conditions
• Soil condition
• Drainage pattern
• Security of the environment
• Availability of infrastructure
• Presence of erosion or environmental hazards

Inspecting during or after rainfall is often advisable.

5. COMMUNITY AND FAMILY VERIFICATION

Many land disputes in Nigeria originate from family ownership conflicts and multiple sales.

Buyers should verify:

• The real family or community owners
• Whether there are ongoing disputes
• Whether consent of principal family representatives exists
• Whether the land has previously been sold

6. ENGAGE PROFESSIONALS

Every serious land transaction should involve:

• Property lawyers
• Registered surveyors
• Civil engineers
• Geotechnical engineers where necessary
• Town planners

Professional verification is far cheaper than future litigation or structural failure.