Land Acquisition Adviser

Job Purpose

The Land Acquisition Adviser secures lawful land and surface rights for company projects. The role applies the rule: Know the claimant and know the claim land/surface rights. The role verifies ownership, counts assets, prepares compensation proposals, and presents proposals to the Land Compensation Board after sign-off. The role supports litigation by providing expert witness testimony in court and participating in the formulation of defence strategy. The role applies the Land Acquisition Guide, the Land Use Act 2004, the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, and IFC Performance Standard 5.

The Job location is Port Harcourt

Individual Contributor or Supervisor role? Individual Contributor

Responsibilities

Leads low-value land acquisition cases below US$200,000 Defensible Acquisition Value per case.

Applies the rule: Know the claimant and know the claim land/surface rights.

Determines or proves ownership/title to land using the five recognised methods:

Traditional evidence of family or community ownership.

Documents of title, such as deeds, conveyances, certificates, and court judgments.

Acts of ownership, such as selling, leasing, farming, building, and renting.

Long possession and peaceful enjoyment of the land.

Evidence from adjacent land that makes ownership probable.

Conducts pre-field sensitisation and Pragmatic Consent meetings with claimants and affected landowners.

Coordinates Land and Surface Rights Verification and Assessment field work.

Verifies claimant identity, tenure, boundary, assets, cut-off date, and displacement triggers.

Applies the Six-Point Identity Lock and the Three-Witness Boundary Rule.

Records crops, trees, buildings, structures, and surface rights using photos, GPS tracks, and field sheets.

Prepares assessment and valuation support files for the Land Compensation Board.

Presents the proposal to the Land Compensation Board after sign-off.

Logs grievances and boundary issues, and resolves them using facts, re-counts, surveys, and records.

Works with Legal to formulate defence strategy for assigned land acquisition claims.

Provides expert witness testimony in court on field verification, valuation evidence, and ownership records.

Use alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to resolve disputes, issues and litigations

Documents all land acquisition transactions and retires records to the Land Library or approved land information system.

Maintains secure field data using encrypted tablets, daily uploads, and signed consent forms.

Dimensions

Works across assigned Niger Delta locations, including swamp forest, dry land, rural, and semi-urban terrain.

Supports about 30 hectares of land acquisition per year.

Leads small acquisition cases up to US$200,000 Defensible Acquisition Value per case.

Supports land acquisition litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and expert witness work.

Reports to the Land Acquisition Lead / Team Lead, Land Acquisition.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in estate management, Surveying, Geography, Law, Social Sciences, or a related field.

Minimum of 5 years' work experience in land acquisition, estate surveying, valuation, land tenure verification, or community field verification.

Experience working in Niger Delta host communities.

Experience verifying land ownership, customary claims, documents of title, and asset evidence.

Experience preparing board or compensation submissions.

Experience supporting litigation, alternative dispute resolution, or expert witness work.

Progress toward NIESV or ESVARBON registration is an advantage.

SKILL & COMPETENCES

Working understanding of the Land Use Act 2004, the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, and IFC Performance Standard 5.

Working understanding of customary land tenure and the five ways to determine or prove ownership/title to land.

Skill in estate surveying, valuation support, crop counting, and structure measurement.

Skill in field verification, identity checks, boundary confirmation, and asset evidence collection.

Skill in preparing clear Land Compensation Board proposals and presenting them after sign-off.

Skill in expert witness support, evidence preparation, and defence strategy participation.

Skill in claimant liaison, community engagement, and conflict de-escalation.

Skill in GPS, GIS, drone, and satellite map review.

Skill in report writing, minutes taking, and evidence logging.

Skill in data security, consent management, and confidential record handling.

go to method of application »

Minimum qualifications

BA/BSc/HND

How to apply

Use the link(s) below to apply on company website.

Commercial Adviser, Gas

Land Acquisition Adviser

Head Technical Security

https://www.myjobmag.com/apply-now/1376812

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