Every citizen of Nigeria is empowered to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria. However, the right to own immovable property like every other right is not absolute but subject to certain qualifications. The law of compulsory acquisition of land in Nigeria is rooted in the country's constitution. It is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution that every Nigerian has the right to own private property and that such property shall not be acquired compulsorily, except in the manner and for the purposes prescribed by a law that requires both the payment of prompt compensation and compliance with the rule of law on access to the court. The Land Use Act of 1978 provides that all lands comprised in the territory of each state in Nigeria are vested in the governor of that state and such land shall be held in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians, and the Governor may revoke a right of occupancy for overriding public interest.

OVERRIDING PUBLIC INTEREST
Overriding public interest simply means the acquisition of private individual's land for the use of the government for the benefit of the state. Thus, when an individual's rights in land are being revoked for the purpose of using it for community projects, then we can say such land has been acquired for a public purpose.

In the acquisition of individual land by the government for overriding public purposes, the government must show that such land is being acquired for public use and such land cannot be used for individual benefit. The Court of Appeal, per Salami JCA in Olatunji v. Military Governor of Oyo State held among other things that the acquiring authority is required to state one or a combination of the public purposes for which the land was being acquired in his notice to the holder of a right of occupancy to enable the holder or occupier to challenge the acquisition, the court went further to state that it is not for an individual to speculate or presume that his land is being acquired for public use, he must be notified as to why his land is being acquired by the government.

Thus, where it is proven that the land is to be used for private purpose, such acquisition will be vitiated by that reason, also, a land compulsorily acquired for a public purpose can be vitiated where it was subsequently diverted to serve a private need. If a property is ostensibly acquired for a public purpose and it is subsequently discovered that it has directly or indirectly been diverted to serve private needs, the acquisition may be vitiated.

PUBLICATION OF NOTICE IN THE GAZETTE
The court in Olatunji v Military Governor of Oyo State held that the requirement that acquisition of private lands should be published in the national gazette only constitute notice to the whole world and cannot be taken as a substitute for the notice to be given to the individual owner of the land. Thus, nothing can waive the requirement of personal notice to the individual owner of the land compulsorily acquired. It should also be noted that such a Notice to the individual landowner must be personally served on the individual concern.

The Land Use Act 1979 specifically highlighted those projects that can fall into the category of public purpose and they include: the building of schools, construction of roads and bridges, laying of pipelines, construction of mines, etc.

COMPENSATION
Compensation is an integral part of the process of compulsory acquisition of land in Nigeria. Its importance cannot be overemphasized as a failure to compensate the occupier renders the acquisition a nullity. Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provided that no individual land should be acquired without compensation. It should as well be noticed that payment of compensation for lands acquired should be prompt and not delayed unnecessarily.

The Court in National University Commission v Oluwo stated that the rights of an individual to acquire properties anywhere in Nigeria is enshrined in the constitution and it carries with it the right to dispose of such properties, thus, any individual whose land the government compulsorily acquired is entitled to prompt payment of reasonable compensation.

In Goldmark (Nig.) Ltd. v. Ibafon Co. Ltd, the Court held that there is no doubt the government has the power and authority to acquire land compulsorily for public use, however, such power is exercisable in accordance with the proper procedure for acquisition, that is, proper notice must be given to the owner of the land and reasonable compensation must be paid.

CONCLUSION
In summary, ownership of land is the right of every citizen in Nigeria, the right to acquire as well as the right to dispose of is enshrined in the constitution and legislation. However, this right to acquire and hold land is subject to the power given to the governor of each state by the Land Use Act as well as the right given under the constitution, therefore, the government can only acquire individuals' lands compulsorily upon the payment of compensations. Where any individual find the acquisition of his/her land to be unlawful, such an individual can successfully challenge the acquisition in the court of law.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Culled from mondaqdotcom

“You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.” Gordon B. Hinkley

“The wise young man or wage earner of today invests his money in real estate.” Andrew Carnegie

The philosophy of the rich and the poor is this: the rich invest their money and spend what is left. The poor spend their money and invest what is left.” Robert Kiyosaki

“You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.” Gordon B. Hinkley

“Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming independent, for real estate is the basis of wealth.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

“Owning a home is a keystone of wealth… both financial affluence and emotional security”.
Suze Orman

Land monopoly is not only monopoly, but it is by far the greatest of monopolies; it is a perpetual monopoly, and it is the mother of all other forms of monopoly.”
-Winston Churchill

“Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming independent, for real estate is the basis of wealth.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

“If you don’t own a home, buy one. If you own a home, buy another one. If you own two homes, buy a third. And, lend your relatives the money to buy a home.”
John Paulson, investor and multi-billionaire

“When you invest, you are buying a day that you don’t have to work.” Aya Laraya

I have always liked real estate; farm land, pasture land, timber land and city property. I have had experience with all of them. I guess I just naturally like ‘the good Earth,’ the foundation of all our wealth.”
-Jesse H. Jones,

“The wise young man or wage earner of today invests his money in real estate.” Andrew Carnegie

“You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.” Gordon B. Hinkley

I have always liked real estate; farm land, pasture land, timber land and city property. I have had experience with all of them. I guess I just naturally like ‘the good Earth,’ the foundation of all our wealth.”
-Jesse H. Jones,

Land monopoly is not only monopoly, but it is by far the greatest of monopolies; it is a perpetual monopoly, and it is the mother of all other forms of monopoly.”
-Winston Churchill

“Buy on the fringe and wait. Buy land near a growing city! Buy real estate when other people want to sell. Hold what you buy!” - John Jacob Astor, real estate and business mogul

Everyone wants a piece of land. It’s the only sure investment, it can never depreciate like a car or a washing machine.” Russel Sage

“You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.” Gordon B. Hinkley

Everyone wants a piece of land. It’s the only sure investment, it can never depreciate like a car or a washing machine.” Russel Sage

“You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment that you will ever make.” Gordon B. Hinkley

“When you invest, you are buying a day that you don’t have to work.” Aya Laraya

“90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” Andrew Carnegie

“When you invest, you are buying a day that you don’t have to work.” Aya Laraya

“Owning a home is a keystone of wealth… both financial affluence and emotional security”.
Suze Orman

“The wise young man or wage earner of today invests his money in real estate.” Andrew Carnegie

“When you invest, you are buying a day that you don’t have to work.” Aya Laraya

Land monopoly is not only monopoly, but it is by far the greatest of monopolies; it is a perpetual monopoly, and it is the mother of all other forms of monopoly.”
-Winston Churchill

“When you invest, you are buying a day that you don’t have to work.” Aya Laraya

Everyone wants a piece of land. It’s the only sure investment, it can never depreciate like a car or a washing machine.” Russel Sage

“Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming independent, for real estate is the basis of wealth.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

“When you invest, you are buying a day that you don’t have to work.” Aya Laraya