Land documentation

The Lagos State House of Assembly on 29 th  January 2018 , passed a Law to Provide For The Consolidation Of Property And Land Based Charges And Make Provisions For The Levying And Collection Of Land Use Charge In Lagos State; otherwise referred to as the Land Use Charge Law of Lagos State, 2018 (the “LUC Law”). The LUC Law repeals and replaces the Land Use Charge Law, 2001. Similar to the 2001 law, the LUC Law provides for a unified ‘Land Use Charge’ which consolidates all property and land based rates and charges payable under the Land Rates Law, Neighborhood Improvement Charge and all Tenement Rates;  and provides that such other rates shall cease to apply to any property on which land use charge has been levied.  Unlike the 2001 law, the LUC Law goes a step further to repeal the Land Rates Law and Neighborhood Improvement Charge Law, as well as the Land Use Charge Law, 2001 thereby creating a clearer regulatory framework for land based rates and ch...

A Federal High Court, Ikeja on Friday fixed October 5 to rule on a no case submission filed by a legal practitioner, Kole Bello who is standing trial for allegedly forging a Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) of landed property in Lekki. Bello who is standing trial alongside three others was expected to open his defense in the forgery case but he filed an application asking the court to drop all the charges against him. Bello was arraigned before the court alongside Chukwu Victor, Friday Palmer and Osumah Terry sometimes in October 2017, by the Lagos State Government on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and forgery. According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired among themselves and forged a C of O with reference no. 63/63/1989, dated Sept. 28, 1989. The defendants allegedly forged C of O in order to take over a plot of land belonging to late Mrs Francisca Awolaja. However, at Friday’s proceedings, Bello’s counsel, Oke Akintunde (SAN...

The Lagos State Government {LASG} says that it has been putting measures in place to nip in the bud the incidents of building collapse in the state. The Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday. Lawal said that the ministry had been carrying out integrity tests on residential and commercial buildings regularly to avoid a recurrence of building collapse. He also said that the state government had employed engineers to strengthen its workforce for effective monitoring of buildings in the state. The commissioner added that both the old and new staff members had been going on regular training to be in tune with the latest developments in the various fields. Lawal said part of the job of the monitoring team was to ensure no building work could go on at night at any building sites, as such activity would attract penalty. “If the government discovers that any developer is building at night or ob...

The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr Gbolahan Lawal has said no fewer than 3,000 residents have so far benefited from the Lagos State Government’s Rent-To-Own schemes. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Lawal said the state’s housing policies captured both those in the formal and informal sectors. He said that the informal sector constituted about 65 per cent of the population of the state and that a mechanism had been put in place to determine their incomes and eligibility for the homes. “All our estates are for everybody irrespective of your status. We have special consideration for Lagosians and we have accommodation for all categories of people in Lagos. “My Christmas promise will be achieved for those prospective buyers who have applied for Gbagada, Igbogbo, Amuwo Odofin, Sangotedo Phase 1 houses. Celebrating Christmas in their new homes is feasible. “It is important to also use this medium to let Lagosians know that we are committed to c...

In a bid to eliminate quackery in architectural practice, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has announced plans to set up an enforcement and compliance unit, which will ensure that only registered members handle architectural projects in the country. The council in a statement said that the measures would be in consonance with the extant laws and complement the content and spirit of the National building codes. According to ARCON President, Sir Dipo Ajayi, the unit will ensure that only professionals with the requisite knowledge and expertise of the building process are engaged to carry out building projects and are duly governed by the various Acts in the statute books. “The Council is working in concert with other interest groups to get the built environment properly policed to avoid or reduce to the barest minimum the issue of building collapse and its attendant effect on the developer and the national psyche,” he said. Speaking on the recent bui...

      Are you considering buying property in Lagos or already in the middle of a property transaction and you need professional advice and assistance? If you are, then this is for you!   This guide is meant to explain the process to anyone who is interested in buying property in Lagos in order to ensure that it is done safely and lawfully. Acquiring land or developed property is one of the dreams of every Man; it can be very exciting and very scary all at the same time. This is especially so because in Lagos, Nigeria there is always the risk of deception. v   DECIDE ON A BUDGET AND LOCATION: Buying a property is a big step concerning an important lasting financial obligation, so be considerate about what you can afford. Also, if you intend to live in the property, then you need to be sure that it is in a location you are happy at and can be for a long time. Once this is decided, then you are good to go and can move on to the next step. v ...

Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) have commenced ‘Operation Submit Your Building Plan’ exercise throughout the state. According to the state government agencies, the move is geared towards updating the state’s Physical Development Database as well as ‘upholding the law for a sustainable, safe, secure, functional, business and tourism friendly environment.’ Speaking on the state-wide exercise, General Manager, LASPPPA, TPL. Funmi Osifuye said the two sister agencies embarked on the Joint Post Construction Audit of existing structures in the State in order to achieve a sustainable and well-planned environment. While noting that the exercise would also ascertain the structural stability of the buildings to prevent collapse of structures in the State, he urged every owner/developer whose property is not covered by a Planning Permit/ Building Plan Approval to commence the process of regularisation in li...