9 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING LAND FROM TRADITIONAL LAND OWNERS (OMO-ONILE)

One of the easiest and fastest way of buying land in Nigeria is through the traditional land owners, popularly called “Omo-Oniles”. The reasons for these are based on the following factors:

·         Land from the traditional land owners – Omo Oniles – is readily available to all prospective buyers to purchase anywhere and anytime they so wishes

·         Most people still regards traditional land owners as the custodians of land in Nigeria

·         Traditional land owners still lay claims to the ownership of land in most parts of Nigeria

·         Lack of proper and adequate awareness on the part of government as been the overall custodian of land in the country

·         Lands bought from traditional land owners encourages quick location, infrastructural and social development of the populace and environment

·         The sales (monetary) value of land bought from traditional land owners is cheap and easily affordable to the general populace most importantly the low-income earners

So today, I will highlight and identify those important things you should/must consider and establish when you want to buy land from the traditional land owners – “Omo Oniles”

Before you eventually buy that land from the traditional land owners otherwise known as Omo-Oniles, endeavour to consider these following things:

1.      Try to consider and investigate the total land area and size of the traditional land owners is properly printed on a survey plan showing details of the land in relation to its size and positioning

2.      Is the head of family of the traditional land owners aware of the land transaction you are going into but if not so, try to request for his presence/awareness before you finally pay for the family land from them

3.      Confirm from the traditional land owners if the family land you are about buying is not under any known co-operative, government acquisition or committed land scheme

4.      Before you eventually pay for the family land, make adequate preparation and consideration for drafting a well written and registered Transfer Agreement which should be prepared by a legal practitioner between you and the family land owners

5.      Also, you must endeavour to consider asking within and around the locality/area where the land is situated whether the land you are about to buy from the omo-oniles has not been sold to someone else

6.      You must also consider perfecting the title documents of the land purchased from the traditional land owners with the government after completion of the transaction . The process for doing that is called Ratification.

7.      It is also important to trace the true ownership status of the land before you finally pay for it.

8.      Another thing to consider again as a buyer of omo-onile land is the establishment of no legal dispute between the traditional land owners and some other traditional land owners or even among the actual land owners as per the actual owner in respect of the particular land you want to buy.

9.      You should also consider liaising with the duly appointed family head of the traditional land owners before you finally pay for the land.

I hope with the various factors identified above, you are properly placed in the best position to buy any land belonging to the traditional land owners – “Omo Oniles” – in Nigeria

Always employ the services of the professional Estate Surveyor and Valuer to guide you through the process of purchasing/buying land from the traditional land owners – “Omo Oniles” - as they are professionally trained in the art and science of diversified areas of Real Estate Management discipline inclusive of Estate Agency.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adeniyi Akinjiyan is a Higher National Diploma (HND) holder of Estate Management from the prestigious Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos state, Nigeria. He possesses a Professional Practice Certificate in Estate Surveying and Valuation from the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV).

He is the principal consultant of Aakient Consultants Ltd, a highly progressive and consolidated property and construction project management company, which is committed to providing the highest level of professional services in meeting clients’ real estate needs.

Feel free to contact him at: aakientconsultants@gmail.com