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1. Registration with ISIPA
2. Company Taxation
3. Labour
4. Production Factor
5. Land
6. Legal Framework
The Land Use Act of 1978 vests ownership of all urban land within a state in the State Governor who holds land in trust for the people and allocates same for residential, commercial, agricultural and other purposes. Similar powers with respect to rural (or non-urban) areas are vested in the Local Governments. This means the government becomes the lessor, responsible for granting leases.
There are two rights of occupancy: a statutory right of occupancy granted by the State Government and a customary right of occupancy granted by the Local Government. Leases are typically granted for 99 years, subject to review upon expiration. Title deeds/documents serve as documentary evidence of ownership and include:
This is a title document issued by the President, Governor or Local Government Chairperson which contain the terms of lease and grant rights of occupancy to the holder for the leasehold term stipulated therein.
This is a document of transfer of land from a seller to a buyer. It outlines the agreement between the person with the rights to a piece of land and the person to whom the rights are being transferred. It contains a detailed description of the land (including its ownership history), the agreed cost, and the date from which transfer takes effect.
This is a legal document authorising the transfer of land from one person to another. In the case of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is called Minister’s consent.
Find out more… Land Use Act
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A building plan approval is necessary before construction can commence. Each state has a ministry, department or agency responsible for issuing land permits.
In Abuja, building permits are processed by the FCTA’s Department of Development Control (DODC) which provides the following guidelines to aid the process:
● The applicant should have proper title (obtainable from the AGIS) over the land in question.
● The applicant must abide by the specific use for which the title is granted, in line with the Abuja Master Plan. Land uses are categorized as Residential, Commercial, Religious, Recreational, Institutional, Educational, Health, Industrial and Green trees.
● Only building plans prepared by, and bearing the seal and stamps of registered professionals (town planners, architects and engineers) will be accepted for processing.
● Each construction site must have in its team a Registered Structural Engineer or Builder or Architect who must be available on site during construction work. Otherwise such sites will be sealed or prevented from carrying on with its works
● Throughout the duration of construction works, both the approved building plan and development permit must be kept on site for purposes of guiding the work and for sighing by officer carrying out routine inspection.
● Obtain the application form and a copy of the Development Control Guidelines
● Complete the form: Depending on the type of permit being requested, it may be necessary to consult the neighbours of the property in question, especially those that will be affected by the proposed construction.
● Submit the application alongside the following documents:
1. Evidence of rights over the land (Right of occupancy, Certificate of occupancy, Title Deed Plan and fulfillment of financial obligations).
2. A site plan and detailed site analysis report certificate by a registered town planner.
3. Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) Report for commercial, industrial, public building, recreational, large scale residential development, change of use of plot or on existing buildings and any other land use as may be deemed necessary, prepared and authenticated by a registered town planner.
4. All application in respect of Special Development such as Petrol Filling Station, Water Supply, drilling/Outlets, private health and educational facilities, child welfare related developments etc. shall be accompanied by letters/license of the relevant regulatory body
● On assessment/verification of content of application, appropriate acknowledgment letter shall be issued to the applicant by the DODC, alongside bills for processing application.
● Applicants must pay full processing fee within two (2) weeks of receipt of acknowledgment and bill before the permit is processed.
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