When buying property in Lagos, the document that proves ownership is the single most critical factor. ## 1. What is a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)? A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) is the first formal grant of land ownership issued directly by the state government to an individual or corporation. It grants rights over the land for 99 years. ## 2. What is a Governor's Consent? Once a C of O has been issued on a parcel of land, any subsequent sale or transfer requires Governor's Consent to be legally binding in court. When you buy from a private owner with a C of O, you execute a Deed of Assignment and process the Governor's Consent. ## 3. Excision and Gazette Where the government formally releases portions of land back to original communities and publishes it in the official gazette, the land is termed "Excised". It is legally safe provided your specific parcel falls within the gazetted coordinates. - Always run an independent survey verification at the Surveyor General's Office. - Never pay full balance before verifying the root of title.