C of O vs Governor's Consent vs Deed of Assignment: Which Do You Actually Have?

Three documents confuse more land buyers in Nigeria than anything else: the Certificate of Occupancy, the Governor’s Consent, and the Deed of Assignment. They are not interchangeable, and the difference between them is where land ownership is won and lost.

Here is what each one is, what it proves, and which one you actually have.

What Is a Deed of Assignment?

A Deed of Assignment is a private agreement between seller and buyer transferring the seller’s interest in the land to you. It is signed by both parties and witnessed. Think of it as proof that you bought the land. It does not, by itself, give you government recognition, and the government is the only party whose recognition makes ownership stick.

What Is a Certificate of Occupancy?

A C of O is a statutory document issued by the state government granting you a formal right of occupancy over the land, typically for a 99-year term, renewable. It is government recognition of your ownership and the strongest title document available under Nigerian law. It protects you against revocation without compensation, and it is what banks, insurers and serious buyers demand.

What Is Governor’s Consent?

Governor’s Consent is the state government’s approval of a transfer of an existing C of O. When you buy land that already has a C of O, the law requires the transaction to be registered and approved by the Governor. Without consent, you hold the C of O document in a previous owner’s name, which means you do not fully own the land in law, no matter what you paid.

The Simple Comparison

Document	What it proves	Given by
Deed of Assignment	You bought the land	Seller and buyer
C of O	You hold the statutory title	State government
Governor’s Consent	The title was legally transferred to you	State government

A Deed of Assignment is the beginning of the paperwork. The C of O or consent is the end of it.

The Mistake That Costs People Their Land

Many Nigerians buy land with only a Deed of Assignment and stop there. The land is later found to belong to someone else, or the seller’s title turns out to be defective, and the deed protects nobody because the government never recognised the chain.

The other common version: buying titled land and skipping consent. You pay the full price for a C of O you do not legally hold. When you try to sell or mortgage, the transaction stops at the missing consent.

Why the Difference Matters

• A Deed of Assignment alone does not protect you if the land is later found to belong to someone else
• Government agencies, banks and serious buyers insist on a C of O or consent
• C of O makes your property bankable, usable as collateral for loans
• During demolition exercises, buildings on land with valid title are prioritised for protection
• Consent is required for every transfer of titled land, every time it changes hands

Which One Do You Need?

Your situation	You need
Buying land privately for the first time	Deed of Assignment, then C of O processing
Buying land that already has a C of O	Deed of Assignment plus Governor’s Consent
Already own land without title	C of O processing as soon as possible
Selling your property	Valid title in your name (C of O or consent)
Using land as collateral	C of O or consent in your name

The VETONGROUP Advice

Never pay the full price for land based on a Deed of Assignment alone. Always:

1. Run a cadastral search to verify the land is not under dispute or government acquisition
2. Verify the seller’s title history, and whether the land is already titled
3. Process the C of O, or the Governor’s Consent, through a licensed professional

See our Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) service →

Want the full process? Read our complete 2026 guide to getting a C of O in Nigeria, or the Edo State C of O guide with EDOGIS fees and timelines.