Land is where most Nigerian property journeys begin — and where most problems are made. The painful stories you have heard almost always trace back to a purchase made without checks. Before you pay for any plot, work through these five.

1. Establish who actually owns the land

Ask for the root of title and trace it. Is the land family land, community land, or owned by an individual or company? Family land sold without the consent of all principal members is one of the most common sources of dispute in Nigeria. If the seller is an agent, ask who they act for and demand written authority.

2. Verify the title documents

The strength of title varies widely. A Certificate of Occupancy, a Governor's Consent, or a Registered Survey each tell you something different. Some land is under government acquisition — excision or a gazette may exist, or may still be pending. Ask for documents early, and verify them at the lands registry rather than taking photocopies at face value.

3. Commission an independent survey

A registered surveyor should confirm the land's coordinates fall where the seller claims, and that the plot is not on government-committed acquisition, a road alignment, or someone else's land. The cost of a survey is trivial next to the cost of a dispute.

4. Visit the land — more than once

Go yourself. Go at different times of day. Talk to neighbours and local tradespeople. Is the area flooded in the rainy season? Is there a dispute fence? Is access roaded or promised? What you learn in one hour on site can outweigh weeks of WhatsApp photographs.

5. Involve professionals at documentation

Never pay the balance before documentation is prepared. Engage a lawyer — ideally one independent of the seller — for the deed of assignment and subsequent perfection. A properly drafted and registered document is what converts your payment into ownership a court can recognise.

  • Request the root of title in writing before any payment
  • Verify documents at the relevant lands registry
  • Commission a registered surveyor before the balance payment
  • Visit the site personally, more than once
  • Use an independent lawyer for documentation and perfection

None of this is glamorous. That is rather the point — land rewards the careful.