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Abuja or Nasarawa? Check which land registry applies before you buy

By Landora Editorial TeamPublished

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and procedures change; confirm the current position with the relevant authority and a qualified professional before you pay or sign anything.

Abuja’s growth has spread beyond the boundary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Towns such as Mararaba, in Karu Local Government Area, sit in Nasarawa State, even though they form part of the wider urban area around Abuja and are often described as “Abuja” in adverts.

For a buyer, the difference is not just a name. The state or territory a plot is in decides which land authority administers it and therefore where its title records should be checked. This guide explains what to confirm. It is general information, not legal advice.

Two different land administrations

In the FCT, land administration sits with the Federal Capital Territory Administration. Its Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) manages the computerised land administration of the FCT, including the production of land titles, and lists property search and verification of land records among its services.

In Nasarawa State, land is administered by the state government. The Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS) is the state’s land information agency and has publicly encouraged landowners to obtain their title documents through it.

Because the records are kept by different authorities, a search with one of them cannot confirm the title to land that lies in the other’s territory.

Why the exact location matters

  • The search must be at the right registry. Your lawyer can only confirm a title against the records of the authority that covers the land.
  • Documents should match the location. If a document was issued by an authority that does not cover the land’s actual location, ask your lawyer to explain it before you go further.
  • Consent and registration follow the land. Transfers of a right of occupancy generally require the consent of the relevant authority under the Land Use Act, so the correct authority matters after you buy as well as before.
  • Building approvals differ. In the FCT, development requires approval from the FCT Development Control Department, which has sealed and demolished buildings that departed from approved plans. Outside the FCT, the relevant state planning authority applies.

What to ask before you commit

  • Which state or territory, and which local government area, is this plot in?
  • May I see the survey plan for the plot? (A registered surveyor can confirm where the coordinates fall.)
  • Which authority issued the title document, and what type of document is it?
  • Is the title for this exact plot, or for a larger estate that the plot is part of?
  • Has my lawyer completed a search at the authority that covers this location?

Using Landora

On Landora, a listing’s location is supplied by the advertiser unless its Property Passport shows the location check as confirmed. Use cities on Landora and land for sale to explore, then complete these checks with your own lawyer and surveyor before paying anything. Our guide to avoiding property scams lists the questions to ask before a deposit.

Key points

  • Some areas marketed as “Abuja”, such as Mararaba, are in Nasarawa State.
  • FCT land records are administered through the FCTA and AGIS; Nasarawa land through the state and NAGIS.
  • Confirm the state, local government area and survey coordinates before any search or payment.

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