The Lagos State Government has launched an online resolution platform that allows property owners living abroad to address Land Use Charge complaints without travelling to Nigeria. The initiative, which will run from October 8 to 28, 2025, is being implemented through the Land Use Charge Assessment Appeal Tribunal.
Through the platform, affected property owners can schedule and attend virtual sessions to resolve disputes or clarify assessments. The government described the new process as secure and convenient, aimed at easing the burden on Nigerians in the diaspora who previously had to return home to address such issues.
To participate, applicants will be required to provide key details, including their Demand Notice Number, name, email, WhatsApp contact, and the category of property in question, such as owner-occupied residences, commercial properties, vacant land or agricultural land. They must also state the nature of their complaint and agree to the tribunal’s dispute resolution terms.
The Land Use Charge is an annual property levy that consolidates ground rent, tenement and neighbourhood charges into a single payment under the Lagos State Land Use Charge Law 2020. All property owners and long-term lessees are liable to pay, including owners of vacant land. However, exemptions remain in place for pensioners, public libraries, non-profit cemeteries, traditional palaces and religious properties used strictly for worship or education.
The charge is a key revenue stream for the state. In 2024, Lagos projected N700 million from LUC collections and had already realised N300 million by April. By enabling remote dispute resolution, the government aims to remove bureaucratic barriers and strengthen compliance among diaspora property owners.
For MSMEs and property investors abroad, this move offers easier engagement with state authorities, reducing financial risk tied to unresolved property assessments and ensuring continued participation in Lagos’s evolving property tax system.
