The 1978 law that vests land in government and grants people rights of occupancy to use it.
The Land Use Act is the foundation of land law in Nigeria. It vests land in each state in the Governor, who holds it in trust for the people. In the Federal Capital Territory, land is vested in the Federal Government and administered through the FCT Minister.
Because of the Act, nobody holds freehold land in the old sense. What you buy is a right of occupancy, usually evidenced by a Certificate of Occupancy, for a fixed term.
The Act also requires consent for transfers and allows government to revoke rights for overriding public interest.
Related terms
General information about property in the FCT, not legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and processes change, so confirm the current position with AGIS, a lawyer or our team before you act.