Lagos Excision vs. Gazette: What’s the Difference in Land Documentation?

Introduction

In Lagos land practice, few terms are thrown around more casually—and more dangerously—than Excision and Gazette. Marketers wave them like magic wands; buyers assume they equal “title.” They don’t. Excision and Gazette are about government policy and boundary recognition, not about your private proprietary title. You can have a plot “inside excision” and still have no marketable estate. Conversely, you can buy beautifully drafted deeds with a survey that actually sits outside the excised polygon and lose years in dispute.

This counsel-grade guide explains, in clean practical language, what Excision is, what a Gazette does, how both relate to C of O, Governor’s Consent, and Registration, and how to verify claims so you only pay for bankable, consented, and registered rights.

Doctrine: Excision and Gazette define where traditional/communal rights are recognized; they do not by themselves prove your title. Title comes from valid derivative instruments, Governor’s Consent, and registration—anchored by OSG-clean surveys.

Part I — First Principles: What the Terms Actually Mean

1) Excision (in Lagos practice)

Excision is a government act of release: the State excises (carves out) specific parcels from general acquisition to recognize traditional/communal holdings of named villages/families/communities. The outcome is a polygon (or set of polygons) with surveyed boundaries within which those named landowning communities can legally alienate land to third parties.

• It is fundamentally about boundary recognition and policy regularization.

• It does not automatically grant you, a private buyer, a proprietary title.

• It defines who can grant you a valid derivative title if your plot lies inside the polygon and you buy through the right community/family representatives.

2) Gazette

A Gazette is the official Government publication that records the excision—identifying the beneficiary community/family, the location and extent (often with survey descriptions, beacons, areas), and any conditions. Think of the Gazette as the public notice and archival record of the excision decision.

• The Gazette memorializes the excision; it does not replace private title documents.

• It lets lawyers, surveyors, and buyers verify authenticity, beneficiaries, and boundaries.

3) Where C of O and Governor’s Consent Fit

• C of O (Certificate of Occupancy): a grant of statutory right of occupancy (often for first allocation/regularization).

• Governor’s Consent: required for derivative transfers under a statutory right (e.g., Deed of Assignment, Lease, Sublease, Legal Mortgage).

• Registration: records your stamped and consented instrument at the Lands Registry, securing priority and searchability.

Excision/Gazette tell you who can lawfully convey and where; Deeds + Consent + Registration make your purchase bankable.

Part II — Excision vs. Gazette at a Glance

Part III — What Excision/Gazette Do Not Do (Common Myths)

• “It’s excised, so I own it.”
  False. Excision confirms community entitlement, not your ownership. You still need a proper deed from the rightful grantors, and you must perfect it.

• “The Gazette is my title.”
  False. The Gazette is government publication, not your deed. Your title is the derivative instrument (e.g., Deed of Assignment) + Consent + Registration.

• “Any seller inside excision can sell.”
  False. Only the beneficiary family/community (represented per custom and law) can validly alienate. Rogue sales abound.

• “If it’s near the excised area, it’s fine.”
  False. Near is not inside. Your survey coordinates must fall within the polygon as charted by OSG.

Part IV — Practical Buyer’s Workflow (How to Use Excision/Gazette Safely)

Step 1 — Demand and Study the Gazette/Excision Evidence

• Obtain the Gazette reference and extracts showing: beneficiary community/family name(s), beacon list/coordinates, area, and conditions.

• Ask for the mother survey or layout the estate claims to derive from.

Step 2 — Do a Fresh Survey & OSG Charting (Non-negotiable)

• Commission a Registered Surveyor to produce a Registered Survey Plan (hard + soft copy) for your specific plot.

• File the soft coordinates with the Office of the Surveyor-General (OSG) for charting against State layers:

  • Excision polygon boundaries (per Gazette)

  • Acquisition/committed areas

  • ROW (roads/rail/canals)

  • Pipelines/power lines

  • Coastal/wetland/drainage setbacks

  • Overlap checks with prior surveys

• Obtain written charting confirmation. If your plot is outside the polygon, don’t buy the story.

Step 3 — Verify the True Grantors

• Identify the recognized family/community representatives per local custom and previous consented transactions.

• Where in doubt, obtain community resolutions, letters of authority, or court-sanctioned representation.

• Cross-check that past deeds from the same grantors have been consented/registered—a useful authenticity signal.

Step 4 — Engineer the Contract to Protect Your Money

• Heads of Terms (HoT): exclusivity; escrow for deposit; Conditions Precedent (CPs):

  • OSG charting clean (within excision polygon; no acquisition/ROW/pipeline/coastal/drainage/overlap)

  • CTCs of any root/chain instruments

  • If corporate sellers: CAC status + board authority; discharge of any charge

  • Delivery of originals at completion

• Long-Stop Date and refund mechanics if CPs are not met.

Step 5 — Execute the Right Instrument and Perfect It

• Prepare a Deed of Assignment/Sublease (perfection-ready; survey annexed).

• Stamp Duties (promptly).

• Apply for Governor’s Consent to your deed.

• Register the consented, stamped instrument at the Lands Registry; obtain registration particulars and later CTCs.

Part V — How Excision/Gazette Interact with C of O and Consent

1. Fresh C of O (grant/regularization)

   • Usually relevant for first allocation or government scheme regularization—not for a buyer purchasing from a community inside excision.

   • If you are buying from a community/family inside an excised polygon, your route is a derivative instrument (Assignment/Sublease) + Governor’s Consent, then Registration.

2. Consent (the deal-maker)

   • Any assignment/sublease/mortgage of a statutory interest requires Governor’s Consent.

   • Being inside excision/gazette does not waive Consent—it triggers it (because you are taking a derivative interest).

3. Registration (the bank’s comfort)

   • Registration protects priority and makes your deed searchable.

   • Without registration, your file remains risky—even if you obtained Consent.

Part VI — The “Inside the Polygon” Test (How to Prove It)

• Registered Survey of your plot (not the estate’s brochure map).

• Soft-copy coordinates lodged at OSG, charted against excision polygons recorded from the Gazette.

• Written charting report confirming your plot lies inside the polygon and is clear of acquisition/ROW/setbacks/overlaps.

• Match names/descriptions across documents: survey, deed, consent forms—typos trigger queries and delay.

Part VII — Common Scenarios & Counsel Strategy

Scenario A — Estate within a well-known excision; you’re buying a plot

• Do: Fresh survey + OSG charting; verify grantors; contract with escrow + CPs + long-stop; perfect (Consent → Register).

• Don’t: Rely on estate brochures or photocopied “gazette pages” without coordinates.

Scenario B — You already bought years ago; your survey seems close to the polygon boundary

• Do: Re-survey; lodge soft coordinates; obtain today’s chart.

• If outside: Consider rectification/relocation with the seller, or restructure the deal. Indemnities won’t move beacons.

Scenario C — You want bank finance on a plot “inside excision”

• Do: Build a finance-grade pack: CTCs of Gazette extract/polygon plan, consented and registered deed, OSG charting report, CTCs of any chain, and clean fiscal (Land Use Charge).

• Don’t: Assume bank will waive perfection because “it’s excised.”

Scenario D — Waterfront/excision overlap

• Do: Expect environmental/setback overlays. Even if inside excision, setback violations will stall Consent/approvals. Re-design or re-site.

Part VIII — Red Flags (Walk or Restructure with Heavy Protections)

• “We are near the excised area” (no charting proof).

• “The Gazette is our title” (no derivative deed, no Consent/Registration).

• “Family reps” who can’t show consistent historic transactions or community authority.

• Uncharted or inconsistent surveys; beacons missing; coordinates “change” after queries.

• Seller resists escrow, OSG charting, CTCs, or long-stop.

Part IX — Documents You Should Actually See

• Gazette extract identifying beneficiary community/family and polygon particulars.

• Registered Survey Plan of your plot (hard + soft copy coordinates).

• OSG charting/verification report (clean).

• Deed of Assignment/Sublease (proper recitals; survey annexed).

• Governor’s Consent endorsement to your deed.

• Registration particulars (folio/e-folio) and, later, CTCs.

• Discharge of any mortgage/charge in the chain, duly filed (if applicable).

• Estate governance documents (approved layout, constitution, service-charge framework) if inside an estate.

Part X — Model Clauses (Illustrative; tailor to your facts)

1) Excision/Gazette & Charting CP

“Completion is conditional upon delivery of (i) Gazette extract evidencing excision of the [named community/family] over the area within which the Property is situated; (ii) a Registered Survey Plan of the Property (hard + soft copy); and (iii) an OSG charting report confirming the Property lies inside the excised polygon and is free of acquisition/ROW/pipeline/coastal/drainage encumbrances and overlaps.”

2) Consent & Registration CP

“Completion is conditional upon issuance of Governor’s Consent to the Deed of Assignment/Sublease in favor of Buyer, evidence of stamping, and registration particulars from the Lagos State Lands Registry.”

3) Authority of Grantors (Community/Family Sales)

“Vendor warrants it is the recognized grantor for the [named community/family] in respect of land within the [Gazette reference] excised polygon and shall deliver resolutions/authority letters and copies of prior consented transactions evidencing its capacity.”

4) Escrow, Long-Stop & Refund

“All monies shall be held in escrow and released only upon written confirmation that all Conditions Precedent are satisfied. If unsatisfied by the Long-Stop Date, Buyer may rescind and receive a full refund within five (5) business days.”

Part XI — FAQs (Concise Counsel)

Q: Is land “inside excision” automatically safe to buy?
A: Safer, not automatic. You still need a valid deed from the right grantors, Consent, and Registration—anchored by OSG-clean charting.

Q: Can a Gazette replace Governor’s Consent?
A: No. Gazette is policy/publication; Consent attaches to your derivative deed.

Q: The seller has a “mother layout” and Gazette—can I skip my own survey?
A: No. You need a Registered Survey of your exact plot and OSG charting to prove your parcel actually sits inside the polygon.

Q: The plot sits partly inside and partly outside the polygon—what now?
A: Re-design boundaries or walk. Buying a split parcel is litigation bait; Consent and approvals will stall.

Q: Who should sell to me in an excised area?
A: The recognized community/family representatives, evidenced by authority documents and a track record of consented, registered transactions.

One-Page Buyer’s Checklist (Print & Carry)

• Gazette extract for the excision (community/family, polygon particulars)

• Registered Survey Plan (hard + soft); OSG charting report: inside polygon; clean of acquisition/ROW/pipeline/coastal/drainage/overlap

• Grantor authority (resolutions, letters, historic consented deeds)

• Contract with escrow, CPs, long-stop, retention

• Deed of Assignment/Sublease drafted (perfection-ready; survey annexed)

• Stamp Duties paid; receipts & endorsements on file

• Governor’s Consent to buyer’s deed secured

• Registration completed; particulars issued; CTCs diarized

• Fiscal: Land Use Charge/ground rent standing; estate documents (if applicable)

• Completion binder: digital vault of notarized scans; originals inventoried and safe-kept

Conclusion

Excision and Gazette are powerful tools for boundary truth and lawful alienation, but they are not your title. Your bankable ownership arises from a valid derivative deed, Governor’s Consent, and Registration—on the back of an OSG-clean survey that proves your plot truly sits inside the excised polygon. Engineer your deal with escrow, Conditions Precedent, and long-stop protections, and you will convert government policy into private, enforceable value.

Call to Action

Buying in an excised area and want a finance-grade file—without surprises?
Retain Chaman Law Firm. We will verify Gazette/excision claims, coordinate Registered Survey & OSG charting, identify the right grantors, draft/negotiated deeds, obtain Governor’s Consent, and register your title—delivering a bankable completion pack ready for lenders and resale.

Contact Us

Chaman Law Firm 115, Obafemi Awolowo Way,Allen Junction, Beside Lagos Airport Hotel,  Ikeja, Lagos 📞 0806 555 3671, 08096888818, 📧 chamanlawfirm@gmail.com 🌐 www.chamanlawfirm.com