How to Avoid Real Estate Scams in Nigeria
Real estate in Nigeria is a huge market, but heavily targeted by scammers. Every week, someone in major cities loses millions to fake land sales or forged documents.
Most Nigerian real estate scams follow a predictable pattern. With basic discipline, you can avoid them. Follow these steps.
Know the scams you’re actually up against
Start by knowing your enemy. The most common Nigerian real estate scams include:
- Omonile and family land fraud — a member (or fake member) of a land-owning family sells land that either isn’t theirs alone to sell or has already been sold to multiple buyers.
- Double allocation — the same plot is sold or “allocated” to two or more buyers, often in estates where documentation is weak.
- Government acquisition of land — land under committed or global government acquisition is sold to unsuspecting buyers who later learn they can’t build on it or get a title.
- Fake documents — forged Certificates of Occupancy, Governor’s Consent, Deeds of Assignment, and survey plans.
- Fake agents and fake landlords — people who don’t own or manage the property, collecting rent or “reservation deposits” and vanishing.
- Off-plan estate fraud — developers collecting payment for estates that are never built, or that get built but never get titled.
Each tip below addresses one or more of these scams.
1. Walk away from deals that are too good to be true
If a Lekki Phase 1 plot is far below market price, be wary. Underpricing creates FOMO. “Distress sale,” “urgent family need,” or “owner abroad” are tricks.
Check area rates on the lease.ng, Nigeria Property Center, or PropertyPro. Ask two independent local agents. If pricing is much lower, require a strong, independently verified explanation before proceeding.
2. Verify the title at the source — not just on paper
Look beyond a Certificate of Occupancy. Verify it directly with the issuing authority.
- In Lagos, search at the State Lands Bureau (Land Registry, Alausa). Confirm the C of O, Governor’s Consent, or Deed of Assignment. The cost is about ₦10,000–₦25,000 for a 1–2-week turnaround. Check the Excision and Gazette list for government acquisition status.
- In Abuja (FCT): search at the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS).
- In other states, the state Ministry of Lands or equivalent Lands Registry.
Have a lawyer or registered estate surveyor conduct the search. Never skip this step or rely solely on the seller’s documents.
3. Ask the right questions — and get the answers in writing
Before any money changes hands:
- Who owns the property, and is there more than one owner (family land, joint ownership, inherited land)?
- If the family land has the head of the family and the principal members who have signed the consent, is it considered a valid consent?
- Is there any ongoing dispute, litigation, or court case over the property?
- Is the property under any government acquisition, either committed or global?
- Are the survey beacons properly placed and in accordance with the survey plan?
- Have all outstanding charges — ground rent, Land Use Charge, development levy — been paid?
- Are there any caveats or encumbrances on the title?
Insist on written answers. A genuine seller willingly provides written responses.
4. Never rush, no matter the pressure
Ignore pressure tactics like: “Three other buyers are coming tomorrow,” “the owner is flying out Friday,” and “price is only valid today.” These are designed to stop you from doing due diligence.
Expect legitimate sellers with a clean title to wait two to four weeks for your verification. If someone refuses, consider it a red flag.
5. Inspect the property in person, with a professional
Go to the property yourself. Walk the boundaries. Check it against the survey plan.
Bring a surveyor to confirm accuracy and beacon placement. For building sites, have an architect or engineer assess soil, flood risk, and access.
Talk to neighbours while on-site. Ask about ownership, other claimants, and disputes. Five minutes of local conversation beats piles of paperwork.
6. Demand to see — and keep copies of — all original documents
Request and physically inspect:
- Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) or, for private land, Governor’s Consent
- Deed of Assignment showing the chain of ownership
- Registered Survey Plan
- Excision and Gazette documents (for formerly family-owned land in Lagos)
- Receipts for Land Use Charge, ground rent, and development levies
- For estate purchases: the estate’s master title, allocation letter, and evidence of the developer’s right to sell
Have your lawyer review every document and compare it to Registry results. Most forgeries are detected by comparing the registered copy with the seller’s version.
7. Never pay in cash, and never pay into a personal account mismatched to the seller
Use traceable payments—bank transfer, manager’s cheque, or licensed escrow. Ensure the account matches the seller or company. Never pay unrelated personal accounts.
For high-value transactions, use escrow. Nigerian fintechs and law firms offer escrow services for property deals. Funds are held until the title is verified and transferred.
Produce a signed, dated receipt for every payment. Include the seller’s full name, NIN or CAC number, property address, amount, and payment purpose.
8. Use a reputable agent or platform — but still verify independently
Use a reputable agent or platform to screen out obvious fraud, but always do your own due diligence. Even top agents can be fooled.
When choosing an agent:
- Ensure your agent is registered with NIESV, ECAN, or the local association.
- Check the agent’s track record and ask for references.
- Avoid agents who can’t show proof of past transactions.
- Never pay high inspection fees to unknown agents. The inspection-fee scam is common.
9. Perfect your title and take possession immediately after purchase
The moment payment clears and the Deed of Assignment is signed:
- Start title perfection as soon as payment clears, and the Deed of Assignment is signed. File for Governor’s Consent and register the deed. Unregistered sales are vulnerable to resale fraud.
- Commission a survey in your name without delay.
- Fence the property or plant concrete pillars at all survey beacons. Empty, unmarked land attracts resale fraud and forceful takeovers.
- Put up a signboard with your name and contact information. Visit the property often.
Land that appears actively owned and monitored is rarely targeted. Abandoned-looking land is quickly resold.
10. Report fraud early
If you are scammed, act fast: file a police report and get an extract.
- Report fraud above a certain threshold to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
- If the property is in Lagos, file a petition with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA). LASRERA exists to regulate the sector and protect you.
- Hire a lawyer to go after your money in civil court while your criminal complaint is active.
Quick action helps freeze accounts before money vanishes.
The short version
Verify at the Lands Registry. Don’t rush. Never pay cash or use a mismatched account. Always involve a lawyer and a registered surveyor. Inspect in person, talk to the neighbors, and take possession immediately.
Real estate scams work because buyers want to believe attractive deals are real. Stay safe—walk away from anything you cannot verify.