What is obtainable in different climes is different in Nigeria. The definition of norm varies from clime to clime. So it is not unusual to purchase a land, leave it unkempt for some period of time, only return to see some form of construction – on your land. The reason – you didn’t take possession immediately after purchase.
What does that even mean?
After buying the land, particularly in a virgin land a.k.a bush, you should make some construction or other type of activity to show:
1. The land has changed ownership, and you are the new owner.
2. You are still alive and active. Omo Onile sometimes parade around areas to see where their are activities and lack of. If there are several months or years without any construction on the land, it is naively assumed that the Owner is probably dead and has forgotten about the Land. Whereas the owner might have travelled abroad or just so preoccupied to visit the land,
3. Some forms of land possession in Nigeria are recognized by law like in cases of Atipioko Ekan V. Uyo (1983), Lassie Akanni Buraihom V. Rebecca Ayinke Bamgbose (1983) and Eleguishi V. Oseni (2005) – “A person in possession of land includes a user of it and one who is in physical control therefore as well as one who is in receipt of rents and profits from installed by him”

The issue of land encroachment is very common in the South west of Nigeria, particularly the commercial hub of Lagos. Incase you are wondering, the Lekki axis witnesses the most rampant land encroachment issues in Lagos. Imagine people trespassing and building on General Theophilus Danjuma’s lands in Ajah? (Some people have mind sha). This just emphasizes the point that Everyone must take physical ownership of their landed property, immediately after acquisition.

The Government unfortunately have not done much to assist and protect people facing land encroachment issues, even in cases where the land was purchased from the Government. For Land disputes referred to the Police, the usual response is to call both parties to settle the issue amicably, out of court (like you had not considered that already be reporting the issue). Legal cases end up been delayed unnecessarily due to the bottle-necks in the Nigerian legal structure. It is not uncommon to have a Land dispute in Court for several years before a decision is realized. Again, this is a route that should be avoided where possible.

In other to avoid/mitigate land disputes, it is mandatory to take possession of your land, immediately after acquisition.

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