How to Conduct a Search at the Lagos Land Registry

Knowing how to conduct a land search at the Lagos Land Registry is as simple as eating your breakfast.

How to Conduct a Search at the Lagos Land Registry
So, what do you need to conduct a search at the Lagos Land Registry? While you rejoice, don’t feel too relaxed as some technicalities are however involved for non-lawyers.
Requirement needed to conduct a search at the Lagos Land Registry
  • Duplicate copy of  Certificate of Registration of the land.
  • Application letter to the Registrar of Titles.
  • Payment of search fee.

No longer required

  • Owner’s Consent Letter
  • Sworn Affidavit by the Owner or Applicant

Steps to be taken to conduct a land search at the Lagos State Land Registry

  • When you get to the Land Registry in Lagos, you are expected to pay the required search fee of 3750 Naira only (as at the time of this write-up) at the designated bank.
  • Once you pay at the bank, you should wait to collect the certificate of payment in the bank (as at the time of this write-up, it takes about 15-30mins for the bank to generate your certificate for payment).
  • You are also required to photocopy your teller and certificate given by the bank, as the land Bureau is expected to keep the duplicate copy while they give you back the original copies of the teller and payment certificate after citing it.
  • You will also be given a form to fill which requires simple answers like the Applicant’s name, Address, phone number, email, reason for search, payment details, payment certificate number and amount.
  • Now take your application letter and all original and photocopies of your teller and certificate to the officer on duty.
  • After that, you will be allowed access to a computer which will have the scanned copy of the original certificate and all required information (this is now known as E-search).

What you should look out for while you are on the Computer or E-search platform

  • Check the description of the land
  • Root of title
  • Year of grant
  • Name and address of the owner
  • Type of grant
  • The term of years of the grant
  • Most importantly, check if there are encumbrances on the land eg. Restitution, Mortgage.

Preparing a Search Report for your client

Well, you can decide to jot down all the information shown on the e-search platform or perhaps just study it very well.

Then make a search report for your client from what you have seen or jotted down.

Make sure you give a rational and unbiased recommendation or advice concerning the land on the search report (very important).

We have provided a sample search report below for you. 

A sample of a land search report (Pdf)

Written by:

Joseph Okusare Joci.  He is a Lagos based Lawyer, Land Consultant, and the CEO/founder of Legalpanic.com.  He helps people do proper due diligence, land search and recommendation for land purchase. You can contact/email him via Legalpanic360@gmail.com.

 


Comments

18 responses to “How to Conduct a Search at the Lagos Land Registry”

  1. Seyi Odewade Avatar
    Seyi Odewade

    Dear Legalpainc, how can I write a report for a land farm search?

    1. After following the above steps on how to conduct a search at the Lagos land Registry, download the pdf file on the page and use the information in the pdf to prepare your land search report for your client.

      1. Phebian Esho Avatar
        Phebian Esho

        I would like you do land and property search from Lagos land registry on Dominium onwards homes at Lekki, its 3bedroom bungalows.
        I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
        Regards

        1. Legal Panic Avatar
          Legal Panic

          Send me a mail via legalpanic360@gmail.com so we can move forward on this conversation.

    2. John okuneye Avatar
      John okuneye

      Good morning Mr Seyi Odewade,
      I will like to employ your service on a property am interested in , in badagry , I was wondering if you might be able to help, and can you furnish me with the cost of you service , and detail of service’s rendered .
      Kind regards
      John okuneye

      1. Legal Panic Avatar
        Legal Panic

        Good day, Please do send me a private message via legalpanic360@gmail.com so I can follow through on this for you. Best regards, Joseph Okusare.

  2. Kelechi Opara Avatar
    Kelechi Opara

    hello, can i conduct a search on a property that is not registered, i.e no c of o ? Just an unregistered Deed of Assignment? Also im curious at what stage can i do a charting to know if the land is under compulsory acquisition?

    1. You can’t search an unregistered land at the land registry.

      1. Damilola Avatar
        Damilola

        What then can one do to check encumbrances on an unregistered land?

  3. How can I undertake a search from overseas

    1. you can ask a lawyer in Nigeria to do the search for you or send us a private mail.

  4. Hey,
    I’ll like to do a land search on a property along Oriba/Eleran-igbe village road Bolorunpelu village Ibeju-Lekki local government area of Lagos State. Can you assist please and how much will that cost me?

    1. Yes I can. Send me a mail at Legalpanic360@gmail.com for details.

  5. Moshood Sikiru Avatar
    Moshood Sikiru

    This is amazing.

  6. SULAIMON WILLIAMS Avatar
    SULAIMON WILLIAMS

    Good Afternoon,

    I belong to a lagos family that happens to have lost most of their properties scattered allover lagos, due to the fact that the parent refuse to carry the children along and failed to inform any of the children before their demise. Some of the properties when given out as lease, but we have no documents to that effect.

    Can a search be conducted with just the address to know the status of the properties. If it can still be claim.

    We have some CTC of Title documents with very old Survey Plans from Alausa but we don’ know the location of the properties.

    1. Legal Panic Avatar
      Legal Panic

      Yes… send a follow up message via our email address at legalpanic360@gmail.com for further discussion and clarification on this.

    2. Legal Panic Avatar
      Legal Panic

      Yes, a search can be done on such lands. You can reach me on legalpanic360@gmail.com for more assist.

  7. Mohammed Abubarkar Akintunde Avatar
    Mohammed Abubarkar Akintunde

    My name is Mohammed Abubarkar Akintunde am one of the grandson of sir mobolaji bank Anthony. We have one inherited property in Obalende but we don’t know where the document is. How do we get the documents back.

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