Valuer Blames Land Acquisition Irregularities On Lack Of Title

An estate surveyor and
valuer in Port Harcourt, Sir Collins Ordu, has said that the reason there had been double dealings and other malpractices in the process of land acquisition is as a result of lack of proper title documents.
Ordu, who made this known to The Tide in an interview in Port Harcourt noted that lack of proper title document in the form of ‘Deed of Conveyance’ gives room for double dealings to the seller.
He said that the deed of conveyance which is the agreement for both parties in the deal, gives legal authority to the buyer and will put the seller of the property to a check.
According to him, the first thing the buyer has to do is to survey the land after which the deed of conveyance, will follow with their witnesses’ signatures.
Ordu, who is a member of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, (NIESV) Rivers State branch said that such document had to be prepared by a qualified lawyer.
He said that the survey plan formed part of the deed of conveyance adding that without the survey plan, that the “deed” is not complete.
The real estate practitioner therefore urged prospective land owners to be very much acquainted with this process so as to ensure that they obtain the right documents for land ownership.
For those who want to develop their property, the estate surveyor advised that they ensure that their building plan, is properly registered with the Ministry of Urban Development, so as to secure the building.
He said this is very necessary, especially for non-natives of a community where they acquired the land, to register such building plans to secure the building in the event of development getting to the area.

Corlins Walter