Important Documents required for a Property Transaction in Nigeria.

The process of buying a house or land does not end with the payment. There are some important documents you must request. These documents prove that the seller has legal ownership of the property, which has been transferred to you, thereby avoiding unnecessary disputes. Some of the important documents to ask for when buying a house or land in Nigeria are discussed briefly below.

Certificate of Occupancy
A Certificate of Occupancy is a document given to an individual that proves ownership of a property as attested by the government in accordance with the laws of the state. Over the years, buyers have had to present the Certificate of Occupancy in order to claim land.

Purchase Receipt
A purchase receipt is a normal receipt or document showing that the seller has received payment for a particular house or piece of land. Usually, vendors issue a receipt to the buyer upon the sale of a property. If the clause for receipt is contained in the document transferring the land, then a separate purchase receipt is not required.

Approved Survey Plan
The approved survey plan is an important document for a buyer to see when buying a house. It shows the buyer the actual location of any property and the boundaries of the property. It will also reveal whether the land is under government acquisition.

Deed of Assignment
The deed of assignment is a registrable document that transfers the title of a property from a seller to the buyer. It can either be prepared by the buyer’s lawyer and reviewed by the seller or vice versa.
In a case where the seller previously purchased the house to be sold from another seller, the new buyer needs to demand a copy of this document to enable him or her to trace the history of the house to be purchased.

Power of Attorney
This is only required when an agent is acting on behalf of the owner of the house. It is a document that authorizes a particular person to act on the behalf of the real owner of the house.

Governor’s Consent
This is not necessarily a document, however, it is important as well. A governor’s consent is the approval or attestation of a state governor by himself or through its designated commissioner to any property transfer.

The Land Use Act of 1978 requires the governor's approval before transferring or conveying any property interest from one person to another.

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