Lagos State Government Emphasizes Importance of Proper Documentation for Housing Transactions

The Lagos State Ministry of Housing has implemented a new policy requiring comprehensive documentation for all homeownership transfers to combat fraud and safeguard the rights of homeowners.

Permanent Secretary Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola has announced that, effective immediately, all applications for homeownership transfer must include the following documents:

• Proof of Homeownership: This includes original title deeds or other legal documentation proving ownership of the property.
• Search Conduct Results: A certified search report from the relevant land registry verifying the property’s legal status and ownership.
• Valid Means of Identification: In cases of lost or misplaced homeownership documents, applicants must provide a valid form of identification (e.g., driver’s license, passport, voter’s card).

This new requirement aims to create a more secure and transparent process for transferring homeownership, protecting both buyers and sellers from potential fraud and ensuring the integrity of property records.

Engr. Toriola disclosed this during a strategic Management meeting at the Ministry in Alausa today. According to him, “An allottee who applies for Transfer of Ownership must accompany his/her application with a letter of allocation, payment receipts and a valid means of identification to be submitted to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing”.

He said the move is to ascertain the genuineness of claims of ownership by applicants for proper transfer which has become necessary given the increased incidents of false claims uncovered by the Ministry.

However, the Permanent Secretary disclosed that henceforth Homeowners applying for replacement of lost of documents must attach the homeowner’s National Identification Card (NIN card), Police Report and Loss of Document in the National Newspaper to the application for processing and confirmation of ownership.

To ensure transparency and accountability in housing transactions, the Lagos State Ministry of Housing has announced a new requirement for all applicants seeking homeownership transfer, change of ownership, or replacement of lost homeownership documents: a valid Tax Clearance Certificate.

Permanent Secretary Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola emphasized that housing construction and infrastructure projects in the state are financed by taxpayer funds, and therefore, beneficiaries must demonstrate proof of personal income tax payment.

Toriola stated that the Ministry will not process any applications that lack the required documentation, including proof of homeownership, search results, valid identification, and a tax clearance certificate. He urged residents to take advantage of the available opportunities while ensuring compliance with these new regulations.