Power of attorney and notary help in Nigeria (2026)

Fact	Value	Source · as of
Governor's consent (states)	Needed before selling, mortgaging, subleasing or transferring a statutory right of occupancy (Land Use Act s.22), with narrow mortgage exceptions	Sources · as of 12 Nov 2026NG-S1 Land Use Act, Cap. L5 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (text in FAOLEX)Federal Republic of Nigeria (FAO FAOLEX legislation database copy) · checked 12 Nov 2026All sources
Transfers outside the Land Use Act	Null and void (Land Use Act s.26)	Sources · as of 12 Nov 2026NG-S1 Land Use Act, Cap. L5 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (text in FAOLEX)Federal Republic of Nigeria (FAO FAOLEX legislation database copy) · checked 12 Nov 2026All sources
Legal search, FCT (AGIS)	₦10,000 individual file · ₦20,000 commercial file · usually 24 hours, at most 3 days	Sources · as of 12 Nov 2026NG-S3 Processes and payments requirementsAbuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), FCT Administration · checked 12 Nov 2026All sources
Deed of assignment or gift, FCT (AGIS)	8% of the property's value; plot must be developed	Sources · as of 12 Nov 2026NG-S3 Processes and payments requirementsAbuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), FCT Administration · checked 12 Nov 2026All sources
Power of attorney, FCT (AGIS)	₦102,000, plus ₦2,000 per extra copy	Sources · as of 12 Nov 2026NG-S3 Processes and payments requirementsAbuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), FCT Administration · checked 12 Nov 2026All sources
Power of attorney, Lagos State	Registered at the Lands Registry when it relates to land	Sources · as of 12 Nov 2026NG-S7 Frequently asked questions (Land Services, Regularisation, Lands Registry)Lands Bureau, Lagos State Government · checked 12 Nov 2026All sources

Can you use a power of attorney from the UK, US or Canada to buy property in Nigeria?

In Lagos State and the FCT (Abuja), a power of attorney relating to land can be registered at the land registry. The Lagos Lands Registry lists it among the instruments it registers, and in the FCT, AGIS charges ₦102,000 to process a power of attorney, plus ₦2,000 for each extra copy. Sources · as of 12 Nov 2026NG-S7 Frequently asked questions (Land Services, Regularisation, Lands Registry)Lands Bureau, Lagos State Government · checked 12 Nov 2026NG-S3 Processes and payments requirementsAbuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), FCT Administration · checked 12 Nov 2026NG-S1 Land Use Act, Cap. L5 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (text in FAOLEX)Federal Republic of Nigeria (FAO FAOLEX legislation database copy) · checked 12 Nov 2026NG-S20 Notary Public (Electronic Notary Register)Supreme Court of Nigeria · checked 12 Nov 2026NG-S32 Important Notice: NBA Introduces Digital Annual Practice Licenses for 2025Nigerian Bar Association · checked 12 Nov 2026All sources

How a power of attorney signed in the UK, the US or Canada must be notarised and authenticated before it is used in Nigeria is not yet confirmed from an official source. Check with an expert before you sign, and keep the power limited to the property and the steps you need.

In Lagos State, stamp duty must be paid on title documents before the Lands Registry will register them. We couldn't confirm the current Lagos stamp duty on a power of attorney from a current official source, and official sources disagree on the duty on a deed of assignment, so check with an expert before paying either.

Whoever signs for you, the transfer still needs consent under Nigeria's Land Use Act, and a transaction that passes an interest in land other than as the Act provides is void. To check a notary in Nigeria, use the Supreme Court's Electronic Notary Register, which the Court says allows public verification of notaries and notarised documents. Have your own lawyer review the sale agreement, and ask to see their current NBA digital practice licence. More on notary and legal paperwork.

Questions

How much is a land search in Abuja?

AGIS charges ₦10,000 for a legal search on a private or individual file and ₦20,000 on a commercial or organisational file. The result is usually ready within 24 hours, and at most three days.

Do you need consent to sell land in Nigeria?

Yes, in the states. Under the Land Use Act, the holder of a statutory right of occupancy needs the state Governor's consent before selling, mortgaging, subleasing or otherwise transferring it, with narrow exceptions for some mortgages. In the FCT (Abuja), ask an expert which consent applies.

What happens if I buy land in Nigeria without consent?

Under section 26 of the Land Use Act, a transaction or document that tries to pass an interest in land other than as the Act provides is null and void. Make consent part of the deal, not an afterthought.

Sources

Checked 12 Nov 2026.

NG-S1 Land Use Act, Cap. L5 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (text in FAOLEX) · Federal Republic of Nigeria (FAO FAOLEX legislation database copy) · checked 12 Nov 2026
NG-S3 Processes and payments requirements · Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), FCT Administration · checked 12 Nov 2026
NG-S7 Frequently asked questions (Land Services, Regularisation, Lands Registry) · Lands Bureau, Lagos State Government · checked 12 Nov 2026
NG-S20 Notary Public (Electronic Notary Register) · Supreme Court of Nigeria · checked 12 Nov 2026
NG-S32 Important Notice: NBA Introduces Digital Annual Practice Licenses for 2025 · Nigerian Bar Association · checked 12 Nov 2026

Power of attorney and notary help in Nigeria

Key facts

Can you use a power of attorney from the UK, US or Canada to buy property in Nigeria?

Questions

Sources

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