Documents Required for Governor's Consent in Lagos: The Complete Checklist
You have bought land. You have a Deed of Assignment. Now your lawyer tells you that you need Governor's Consent to complete the transaction. You ask what documents are needed, and the list is longer than you expected.
This is the complete document checklist for obtaining Governor's Consent in Lagos, including the Tax Clearance Certificate requirement that catches most buyers off guard.
Why Governor's Consent Matters
When land with a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) is sold from one private individual to another, the transfer is not legally complete until the Lagos State Government officially approves it. This approval is called Governor's Consent.
Without Governor's Consent, your Deed of Assignment is an incomplete title. You are a buyer of record in a private contract, but the government has not recognized you as the new holder of the land rights. This leaves you exposed to disputes and makes the land difficult to use as loan collateral.
Governor's Consent is the final step that perfects your title. It is not optional.
The Complete Document Checklist
1. Application Letter
A formal letter addressed to the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance through the Lands Bureau, requesting consent to the deed. Your lawyer will draft this.
2. The Deed of Assignment
The original executed Deed of Assignment between the seller (assignor) and buyer (assignee), duly signed and witnessed. It must contain full legal descriptions of the property including the file number and title of the land.
3. The Original Certificate of Occupancy
The C of O for the land must be presented. This confirms the foundational title from which the transfer is being made.
4. Survey Plan
A current survey plan prepared and signed by a licensed surveyor, showing the exact dimensions and coordinates of the land. It must be registered with the Office of the Surveyor General of Lagos State.
5. Tax Clearance Certificates. Both Parties
This is the requirement that most buyers do not anticipate. Both the seller and the buyer must present valid Tax Clearance Certificates covering the three most recent years of assessment.
The TCC must be:
- Current and not expired
- Issued by the LIRS (for Lagos residents) or FIRS (for companies)
- In the name of the individual or entity on the deed
If either party cannot produce a valid TCC, the consent application cannot proceed. This single missing document is one of the most common reasons Governor's Consent applications stall in Lagos.
6. Stamp Duty Receipt
The Deed of Assignment must be stamped by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The stamp duty receipt proves this has been done. Stamp duty on property transactions is calculated as a percentage of the property value and is a legal requirement before registration.
7. Evidence of Payment of Consent Fee
The Lagos State Government charges a consent fee, which is a percentage of the property value. Proof of payment of this fee must accompany the application. Your lawyer will calculate the applicable fee and process payment through the appropriate government account.
8. Land Use Charge Receipt
Evidence that the current land use charge on the property is up to date. Outstanding land use charges on the property can delay or block the consent process.
9. Means of Identification
Government-issued ID for both the seller and the buyer, national ID card, international passport, or driver's licence.
10. Passport Photographs
Recent passport photographs of both parties to the transaction.
11. Previous Title Documents (if applicable)
If the property has changed hands before, the chain of title documents, including previous Deeds of Assignment and prior Governor's Consent documents, should accompany the application to establish a clear ownership history.
How Long Does Governor's Consent Take in Lagos?
In practice, the timeline for Governor's Consent in Lagos varies. When all documents are in order and there are no queries from the Lands Bureau, the process can take anywhere from a few months to over a year depending on the volume of applications being processed and whether any issues arise during the review.
This is why your lawyer should begin the consent application as soon as the deed is executed, not months later.
The Most Common Reasons Applications Are Rejected or Delayed
- Missing or expired Tax Clearance Certificate from either party
- Unpaid stamp duty or incorrect stamping
- Survey plan not matching the coordinates in the C of O
- Outstanding land use charges on the property
- Incomplete chain of title documents
- Errors or inconsistencies in the Deed of Assignment
Work With a Lawyer Who Knows the Process
Governor's Consent is a technical process. The document requirements are precise, the fees must be correctly calculated, and any error or omission sends you back to the start. Engaging a qualified property lawyer is not an additional expense, it is protection for the significant amount you have already invested in the land.
Sardonyx works with buyers every step of the way, from identifying the right plot to guiding the post-purchase title perfection process. Visit www.sardonyxng.com or reach us at [email protected].
