Strategies in Dealing with Omonile (Land Grabbers) in the Lagos Real Estate Property Market

Strategies in Dealing with Omonile (Land Grabbers) in the Lagos Real Estate Property Market

The Lagos real estate market is one of the dynamic and profitable property markets in West Africa because of unpredictable urban growth, increasing population size, and infrastructural expansion that has suddenly multiplied the value of lands spread across the state. However, its progress is marginalized by this lingering and abiding age-old challenge plaguing buyers of it, as well as all other developers and investors who have been there: Omonile- land grabbing, multiple sales of the same properties, and extortion after purchase.

For anyone putting money in Lagos real estate, getting to learn how to identify, manage, and legally counter omonile risks is not a matter of choice; it is a must. This article gives you on-the-ground dos and don'ts in addition to the rights in the land before and after purchase in Lagos real estate.

Understanding the Omonile Problem

"Omonile" refers traditionally to the descendants of original landholding inhabitants. In contemporary real estate transactions, the term often refers to individuals or groups who:

1. Make ancestry claims on properties after their transaction sale
2. Demand illegal fees during the due process of construction
3. Resell land that has already bought by someone else
4. Terrify the property owner or developer
5. Dispute the title with documentation already perfected

Despite the fact that not all original landowners are involved in the act, land-grabbing operations and monetary extortions have been bred as a systemic risk in some property corridors in Lagos.

The solution hinges on prevention, formal documentation, and proper engagement with the legal framework.

1. Carry out In-depth Due Diligence as Part of Acquisition Strategy

Basically, the most successful fight against land-grabbing begins long before the money is passed forward.

a. Search for Title at the Lands Registry

For every real estate transaction, it is compulsory to search the Lands Registry in Lagos; this searches for:

1. Verification of the Existing Owner
2. Existing Owner's Information
3. Proposed Charges
4. Litigation

A proficient search will guide you against acquiring property already sold to someone else.

b.The government's status on the land

The Lagos lands may fall under:

1. Committed Acquisition
2. Acquisition with Excision
3. Gazette
4. Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)
5. Governor’s Consent

Knowing the status will give an understanding of the level of legal securities attached to the property.

Never trust verbal assurance only or family claims of ownership.

2. Engage a lawyer, not just another agent

Most buyers rely just on agents, but they should know their limitations. While they play their agent roles by facilitating transactions, agents avoid legal validation as they have no knowledge of any potential legal issues about the properties they are dealing with.

Qualified lawyers in real property transactions would thus be involved:

1. Draft or review sales agreements.
2. Perform search and due diligence in connection with transfers that may include the issuance of a Deed of Assignment.
3. Process Governor’s Consent.

Thou shalt assist in advising the buyer on documentation relative to his/her transaction risks.

Legal oversight is the secret to turning dangerous business into structured acquisitions.

The fee for legal services is a lot less than the expenditure on court proceedings or the property itself.

3. Obtain Proper Documentation Immediately

Follow up with your document, the pertinent documentation that must be quickly collected upon arrival of the transaction on board or during completion of the transaction.

The required papers for securing the title include:

1. Deed of Assignment
2. Survey Plan
3. Paymentreceipt
4. Contract of Sale
5. Governor's Consent (if applicable)
6. Registered title documents

Registering the title at the Lands Registry will enhance its security and protect it against any future titles of ownership.

Thus, non-registered titles are less enforceable.

4. Read Lagos State Anti-Land Grabbing Law and use its provisions

Lagos State introduced the Protection of Properties Law (2016) to cruelly address the crime of land grabbing and unlawful occupation.

Among the practices mentioned in the law are:

1. Forced entry into land
2. Illegal occupation
3. Multiple sales
4. Unlawful collection of land-based charges
5. Use of thugs for intimidation purposes

An affected person could take a matter to the police or other legally responsible authorities, such as a human rights body.

It is in the interest of property owners to escalate the matter when they know who is right and who is occupying the land.

5. Avoid Cash Transactions Without Traceability

This untraceable transfer makes them vulnerable

Some best practices that should be followed

Make bank-accepted payments at all costs

Receipts for all transactions are essential

Relevant references must highlight the nature of the transaction

The importance of following this protocol is to make sure that you are able to fortify a strong legal argument if disputes arise among the parties.

6. Work With Reputable Developers and Structured Estates

Transacting with a reputable developer or structuring one's property within structured assets helps diminish any Omonile-related risks

Below are some advantages of structured estates and government-backed property developments

Centralized management

Security presence

Established land verifications

Minimisation of interaction with informal claimants

Many times, the price adjustment is not as bad as it initially seemed due to higher purchase prices from the estate.

7. Secure the Property Immediately after Purchase

Vacant land is vulnerable.

After purchase:

1. Fence in the property.
2. Place a gate (if feasible).
3. Have ownership signs added.
4. Immediately start some visible use.
5. Presence is always scary for potential claimants.
6. Disuse of land can be a breeding ground for disputes.

8. Document Everything and Record Every Interaction

If ever confronted by people claiming ownership or demanding taxes:

Try not to get into a fight

Record every encounter, when permitted by law

Require written statements on ownership

Call the lawyer

Verbal agreements without paperwork will only invite more pulling and tugging.

Regular channels of communication may keep parties at bay from cheating.

9. Engage Community Leaders Constitutionally

Sometimes, traditional or community leaders can explain the legitimate history of land ownership.

Although not to usurp the legal processes, they can be used to-

Clarify old ownership claims

Signal potential risks of disputes

Prevent sudden interventions.

Consensus must be supported by documentation.

Ten. Seek Immediate Legal Help against Harassment

Waiting helps the grabbers.

If illegal intervention occurs:

Go report to the sheriff

Talk to your attorney

Make your complaints occur with acts of law

Do not take any physical action in retaliation

Forceful resort to the law shows the

Violations are, indeed, taken very seriously and reduce future hostility.

Eleven. Review Sellers Backdrop Carefully

Just before executing a deal, please cross-check:

1. Seller's ID
2. Legal clearance to sell
3. Family or community approvals (in some cases)
4. Previous sales history

In family-land-cases, the representatives are effectively permitted, complete with consents.

This way, in the future, multiple claims made by the kinsfolk are thus eliminated.

12. Acquire a Title Policy (As Available)

Title insurance mechanisms are still new in Nigeria, providing additional security against losses due to title defects or fraud.

As the Lagos real estate market matures, we could see one or two of those tools becoming increasingly relevant.

13. Please Avoid Hasty Decision-Making

In an environment of scarcity, pressure is always exerted to coerce hurried buying decisions.

Land acquisitions should be well considered, structured, and legally controlled.

If documentation cannot be verified, one should affirmatively avoid moving forward in a transaction even if the project is reckoned appealing.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Strategies in Dealing with Omoile (Land Grabbers) in Lagos Real Estate Market

1. How Do You Buy Land in Lagos Safely?

Do thorough due diligence on the property, check the title at the Lands Registry, retain a property lawyer, and ensure all documents are properly registered.

2. Can Omonile Still Disturb People Who Own Land with a Certificate of Occupancy?

Possible, even if the situations are attenuated by documented titles. A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) significantly improves your position in resolving disputes.

3. If someone asks for illegal charges during construction, what should I do?

Do not give anything until you have ascertained. Contact your lawyer for guidance, and escalate under the Lagos State Properties Protection Law as directed.

4. Would it be safer to buy land within estates?

In a general way, yes. This reduces the exposure to informal land claims to a greater extent.

5. How do I assure myself that land is not under government acquisition?

A formal land search at the Lagos State Lands Registry would give assurance.

Conclusion

The Lagos property market offers immense business opportunities, but only subject to structured risk management. Omonile snags should be dealt with, not necessarily in a tire-front confrontation but through preparation, thorough documentation, and legal enforcement.

Professional due diligence, legal oversight, transparency in financial transactions, and proactive property management are the necessary asset-ownership prerequisites.

The best investment is not always land in a market characterized by an insignificant land return despite appreciating city-wide residual appreciation image of property, but in equitable protection of that title.

And, in real estate in Lagos, success is towards discipline and not unto haste.