09/07/2026
DID YOU KNOW?
HOW MANY PROPERTY OWNERS LOSE LEGAL PROTECTION BY FAILING TO REGISTER THEIR TITLE DOCUMENTS.
Imagine paying millions of naira for a piece of land, receiving your title document, and believing your ownership is fully secured, only to discover later that your failure to register the document has created legal obstacles you never anticipated.
This is a mistake many property owners make, often because they assume that signing and collecting a title document is the final step in acquiring land.
A title document, such as a Deed of Assignment, Deed of Conveyance, or Deed of Gift, is an important legal document. However, the law requires such an instrument to be registered, merely possessing it may not provide all the legal protection you expect.
The Governor's consent is required in transactions involving lands before those transactions can be properly perfected.
Registration serves important legal purposes. It provides public notice of the transaction, helps protect interests in land, and facilitates future dealings with the property.
Failing to register a registrable title document may expose a property owner to several legal and practical challenges, including:
1. The document may be inadmissible in evidence for the purpose of proving title to land.
2. Challenges in using the property as collateral for a bank loan.
3. Greater risk of disputes where competing interests arise.
4. Additional costs, delays, and administrative hurdles when attempting to perfect title later.
By ensuring that your title documents are properly perfected and registered, you strengthen your legal position and reduce the likelihood of avoidable disputes.
If you have purchased land or any other property and are unsure whether your title documents have been properly perfected and registered, now is the time to find out. A timely legal review can help identify any outstanding requirements before they become costly legal problems.
Protecting your property begins with more than owning a title document, it begins with ensuring that the law recognizes and protects your interest.
