Section 34-38 of the Land Use Act (2004)
Section 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 of the Land Use Act (2004) is under PART VI (Transitional and other related provisions) of the act.
Section 34 of the Land Use Act (2004)
Transitional provisions on land in urban areas
(1) The following provisions of this section shall have effect in respect of land in an urban area
vested in any person immediately before the commencement of this Act.
(2) Where the land is developed the land shall continue to be held by the person in whom it was vested immediately before the commencement of this Act as if the holder of the land was the holder of a statutory right of occupancy issued by the Governor under this Act.
(3) In respect of land to which subsection (2) of this section applies there shall be issued by the Governor on application to him in the prescribed form a certificate of occupancy if the Governor is satisfied that the land was, immediately before the commencement of this Act, vested in that person.
(4) Where the land to which subsection (2) of this section applies was subject to any mortgage, legal or equitable, or any encumberence or interest valid in law such land shall continue to be so subject and the certificate of occupancy issued, shall indicate that the land is so subject, unless the continued operation of the encumberance or interest would in the opinion of the Governor be inconsistent with the provisions, or general intendment of this Act.
(5) Where on the commencement of this Act the land is undeveloped, then
(a) one plot or portion of the land not exceeding half hectare in area shall subject to subsection (6) below, continue to be held
by the person in whom the land was so vested as if the holder of the land was the holder of a statutory right of occupancy granted by the Governor in respect of the plot or portion as aforesaid under this Act; and
(b) all the rights formerly vested in the holder in respect of the excess of the land shall in the commencement of this Act be extinguished and the excess of the land shall be taken over by the Governor and administered as provided in this Act.
(6) Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) above shall not apply in the case of any person who on the commencement of this Act also the holder of any undeveloped land elsewhere in any urban area in the State and in respect of such a person all his holdings of undeveloped land in any urban area in State shall be considered together –
(a) one plot or portion not exceeding 1/2 hectare in area shall continue to be held by such a person as if a right of occupancy had been granted to him by the Governor in respect of that plot or portion; and
(b) the remainder of the land (so considered together) in excess of 1/2 hectare shall be taken over by the Governor and administered in accordance with this Act and the rights formerly vested in the holder in respect of such land shall be extinguished.
(7) No land to which subsection (5) (a) or (6) above applies held by any person shall be further subdivided or laid out in plots and no such land shall be transferred to any person except with the prior consent in writing of the Governor.
(8) Any instrument purporting to transfer any undeveloped land in contravention of subsection (7) above shall be void and of no effect whatsoever in law and any party to any such instrument shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for one year or a fine of N5,000.
(9) In relation to land to which subsection (5) (a) or (6) (a) applies there shall be issued by the Military Governor on application
therefore in the prescribed form a certificate of occupancy if the Military Governor is satisfied that the land was immediately before the commencement of this Act vested in that person.
Section 35 of the Land Use Act (2004)
Compensation for improvements in certain cases
(1) Section 34 of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding that the land in question was held under a leasehold, whether customary or otherwise, and formed part of an estate laid out by any person, group or family in whom the leasehold interest or reversion in respect of the land was vested immediately before the commencement of this Act so however on, group of family in whom the leasehold interest or reversion was vested that if there has been any improvements on the land effected by the person; as aforesaid the Governor shall, in respect of the improvements, pay to that person, group or family compensation computed as specified in section 29 of this Act.
(2) There shall be deducted from the compensation payable under subsection (1) of this section any levy by way of development or similar charges paid in respect of the improvements on the land by the lessee to the person, group or family in whom the leasehold interest or reversion was vested and the amount to be deducted shall be determined by the Governor taking into consideration all the circumstances of the case.
Section 36 of the Land Use Act (2004)
Transitional provisions on land not in urban areas
(1) The following provisions of this section shall have effect in respect of land not in an urban area which
was immediately before the commencement of this Act held or occupied by any person.
(2) Any occupier or holder of such land, whether under customary rights or otherwise howsoever, shall if that land was on the commencement of this Act being used for agricultural purposes continue to be entitled to possession of the land for use for agricultural purposes as if a customary right of occupancy had been granted to the occupier or holder thereof by the appropriate Local Government and the reference in this subsection to land being used for agricultural purposes includes land which is, in accordance with the custom of the locality concerned, allowed to lie fallow for purposes of recuperation of the soil.
(3) On the production to the Local Government by the occupier of such land, at his discretion, of a sketch or diagram or other sufficient description of the land in question and on application therefore in the prescribed form the Local Government shall if satisfied that the occupier or holder was entitled to the possession of such land whether under customary rights or otherwise howsoever, and that the land was being used for agricultural purposes at the commencement of this Act register the holder or occupier as one to whom a customary right of occupancy had been issued in respect of the land in question.
(4) Where the land is developed, the land shall continue to be held by the person to whom it was vested immediately before the commencement of this Act as if the holder of the land was the holder of a customary right of occupancy issued by the Local Government, and if the holder or occupier of such developed land, at his discretion, produces a sketch or diagram showing the area of the land so developed the Local Government shall if satisfied that that person immediately before the commencement of this Act has the land vested in him register the holder or occupier as one in respect of whom a customary right of occupancy has been granted by the Local Government.
(5) No land to which this section applies shall be sub-divided or laid out in plots and no such land shall be transferred to any person by the person in whom the land was vested as aforesaid.
(6) Any instrument purporting to transfer any land to which this section relates shall be void and of no effect whatsoever in law and every party to any such instrument shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine N5,000 or to imprisonment for 1 year.
Section 37 of the Land Use Act (2004)
Penalty for false claims, etc., in respect of land
If any person other than one in whom any land was lawfully vested immediately before the commencement of this Act enters any land in purported exercise of any right in relation to possession of the land or makes any false claim in respect of the land to the Military Government or any Local Government for any purpose under this section, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to any imprisonment for one year or to a fine of N5,000.
Section 38 of the Land Use Act (2004)
Preservation of power of Governor to revoke rights of occupancy
Nothing in this Part shall be construed as precluding the exercise by the Governor or as the case may be the Local Government concerned of the powers to revoke, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Act, rights of occupancy, whether statutory or customary, in respect of any land to which this Part relates.
Credit:
fao.org
https://www.lawyard.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/LAND-USE-ACT-2004.pdf
