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The short answer
A power of attorney (PoA) lets someone in Nigeria act for you on land or a house, such as letting, managing or selling it. From abroad you sign it before a notary public or at a Nigerian embassy or high commission, send the original home, and have it stamped and registered at the Land Registry of the state where the property sits. A PoA that transfers an interest in land may also need the Governor's consent under the Land Use Act.
What a power of attorney does
A power of attorney is a document by which you (the donor) authorise another person (the donee or attorney) to act for you. For property it can be narrow, such as collecting rent and dealing with tenants, or wide, such as selling the land and signing the deed. Choose the narrowest wording that does the job: a general power over all your property gives one person a great deal of control while you are far away.
| Type | Typical use | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Specific (limited) | Let a flat, collect rent, pay levies | Low; scope is clear |
| General | Manage all your property and dealings | High; wide authority |
| Irrevocable, for value | Used in some land sales to the buyer | Cannot easily be withdrawn |
Executing the PoA abroad
- Draft it with a Nigerian lawyer, naming the property exactly as on the title document (C of O, deed or registered survey).
- Sign it before a notary public in your country of residence, or before a consular officer at the Nigerian embassy or high commission.
- Authenticate if asked: some registries or lawyers ask for further authentication of a foreign notarisation; ask in advance what the registry in your state accepts.
- Send the original by tracked courier. Registries generally work from originals, not scans.
Electronic signatures are not a safe route here. A Mondaq commentary (9 December 2021) notes that Nigerian proposals on electronic transactions excluded powers of attorney and land conveyances, and that e-signatures are not widely accepted for such documents. Sign on paper.
Back in Nigeria: stamping, registration and consent
Stamping and registration
A PoA over land is normally stamped and then registered at the state Land Registry, which records it against the property. Registration matters: Adeola Oyinlade & Co's guide to Lagos land checks (19 March 2024) notes that a Land Registry search shows the true owner and encumbrances, and only registered interests can be verified. An unregistered PoA can cause problems for a buyer or tenant who checks the register. Fees and stamp duty vary by state and are set by the registry; ask your lawyer for the current schedule.
Governor's consent
Section 22 of the Land Use Act says the holder of a statutory right of occupancy may not alienate it by assignment, mortgage, transfer of possession, sublease or otherwise without the Governor's consent first obtained. A PoA that only lets your attorney manage the property is different from one that transfers an interest to the attorney. Where a PoA is used as part of a sale, your lawyer will tell you whether consent is needed.
Protecting yourself while abroad
- Give the PoA an end date or tie it to a specific task.
- Keep the original title documents with your lawyer, not your attorney, unless needed.
- Require rent to be paid into your account, not the attorney's.
- Ask for copies of every document signed under the PoA.
- Revoke it in writing, and register the revocation, when it is no longer needed.
Families fall out over property more than almost anything else. A PoA to a trusted sibling can still go wrong if the sibling dies, falls ill or comes under pressure from others. A PoA also ends on the donor's death, at which point the property passes under your will or by administration; see writing a will for Nigerian assets.
Choosing your attorney
The person matters more than the paperwork. Pick someone who lives near the property, has time to deal with tenants and officials, and will keep records. Some owners appoint a lawyer or a registered estate surveyor rather than a relative, on a written fee, because a professional has a reputation to protect and is easier to hold to account. Others appoint two people jointly so one cannot act alone. Whoever you choose, set out in the PoA or a covering letter what they may spend without asking, how often they must report to you, and where rent must be paid. Review the arrangement each year.
Worked example: rent through an attorney
Example only. Bisi lives in Birmingham and owns a three-bedroom flat in Ikeja. She signs a limited PoA before a UK notary authorising her cousin to let the flat, sign a one-year tenancy and deal with repairs up to ₦300,000 per job. The tenant pays ₦4,800,000 rent straight into Bisi's account. Her cousin pays a ₦180,000 plumbing bill from a ₦500,000 float Bisi sends, and forwards the receipt. The tax side is covered in rental income while abroad.
Where Pryme fits
Rent paid into your own account keeps you in control. A Pryme Personal Account can be opened from any country, holds naira with local details, and lets you send a repair float to your attorney. Receipts and statements can be made verifiable with VerifyDoc.ai, so a document you forward can be checked as genuine.
Questions people ask
Can I sign a power of attorney abroad for land in Nigeria?
Yes. It is usually signed before a notary public abroad or at a Nigerian embassy or high commission, then sent to Nigeria for stamping and registration.
Do I need to register a power of attorney in Nigeria?
For land, registration at the state Land Registry is normal practice and lets others verify it. Ask your lawyer about the current fees.
Can I sign a power of attorney electronically?
It is not a safe route. Commentary notes powers of attorney and land conveyances were excluded from Nigerian e-signature proposals. Sign on paper.
Does a power of attorney need Governor's consent?
Section 22 of the Land Use Act requires consent before a right of occupancy is alienated. A PoA used to transfer an interest may need it; one for management usually does not.
Sources
- Land Use Act, Cap L5 LFN 2004 (PLAC) · accessed Oct 2026
- Adeola Oyinlade & Co: land due diligence checks in Lagos (19 Mar 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq (Brickmans Law): Admissibility of e-signatures in Nigeria (9 Dec 2021) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.