These are lands which as of the date of which the 1974 Ordinance governing land tenure in Cameroon came into force, were not classified into the public or private property of the state and or the public bodies.
National lands do not comprise land covered by a private property right. In the event of forfeiture or of non-completion of the procedure to obtain land certificates and certificates of occupancy in progress on the date on which the present 1974 Ordinance governing land tenure in Cameroon entered into force, the land in question shall be incorporated as of right in the national lands.
National lands fall under two categories;
- Lands occupied with houses such as farms, plantations, and grazing lands, manifesting human presence and development;
- Lands free of any effective occupation.
National lands shall be administered by the state in such a way as to ensure rational use and development thereof.