To avoid a backlog of land registration applicants this period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lagos State Government introduced a dropbox facility at the collection centre of the Land Bureau where applicants can include application and supporting documents in an envelope containing their phone contacts and email address. 

This new system was announced on the 20th of July, 2020 by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Lands Bureau, Mr Olabode Agoro, at a webinar on: “COVID 19 Disruption and Land Title Administration in Lagos State: Preserving the Business of Real Estate”. He mentioned that:

“Upon submission of the envelope containing the application and supporting documents, a file number is given for tracking the application and a team of dedicated officials at the Bureau would proceed with the processing of the application. The team [will] contact the applicant where documents are outstanding…. The Bureau has [also] limited the number of persons allowed at a time into its customer service centre to use the dropbox.”

A critical stage during land documentation is the application for the Governor’s Consent at the Land Bureau. This is done to confirm the transfer of ownership of the land. After the Governor’s consent has been obtained, the applicant can pick up the document with proper registration details at the Land Bureau and complete the land registration process with an exchange of contract.