Joy stared at the picture on her phone, heart pounding with excitement.
A perfect piece of land. In a “hot location.”
And from all the agent had said, it was appreciating fast.
He had told her that someone else was eyeing the land too. If she didn’t act now, she might miss it forever. Also, she was advised not to tell anyone, not even her family.
“You know how people are,” he had said, laughing. “They’ll discourage you or even try to block your blessing.”
Joy agreed. After all, she was about to become a landowner, a dream she had nurtured quietly for years. So, within thirty minutes, she made the payment. The agent quickly sent her some scanned documents and congratulated her warmly.
Two days later, Joy finally went to see the land and she could not believe her eyes.
The so-called “estate” was a mechanic workshop. Scrap metal everywhere. No fencing, no signboard, nothing.
When she asked around, a nearby shop owner shrugged and said,
“Ah, people always come here saying they’ve bought land. It’s a government land, o. Nothing dey for here.”
Her chest tightened. She felt sick. That was the moment she realised what had happened: [She’d been scammed.
Real estate scams in Nigeria happen every day, not because people are careless, but because they don’t know what to look out for.
Let’s talk about the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs to watch out for and how to avoid falling into traps that too many buyers have faced.
1. Pressure to Pay Immediately
There’s something about the way some agents talk that makes everything feel like a ticking time bomb.
That kind of pressure might work when you’re buying a pair of sneakers on sale, but not when you’re about to invest millions into land.
Real estate is not something you jump into with one eye closed and fingers crossed. If someone is rushing you to make payment immediately without giving you space to ask questions, see the land, or verify documents, take that as your first red flag.
And if someone tries to guilt you for taking your time, they’re probably hiding something.
2. No Physical Inspection Before Payment
Another thing Joy didn’t do was to see the land and the truth is, real estate should never be rushed.
No serious developer will stop you from inspecting. In fact, the good ones will encourage it, because there’s nothing to hide. They’ll offer a date, arrange transport if they can, and walk you through the property.
If you can’t be there in person, send someone you trust. A friend. A sibling. A lawyer. Someone with common sense and a sharp eye.
3. Shady or Incomplete Documentation
Now let’s talk about paperwork or better still, the lack of it.
If the documents aren’t available before payment, don’t expect them to magically appear after. That’s not how legit real estate works.
A trustworthy seller should be able to show you the documents upfront — registered survey, deed of assignment, approved layout, excision file, or whatever applies.
You don’t need to be a lawyer to spot red flags — just ask, and verify. The Lagos State Land Registry is open. A real estate lawyer is just a call away.
4. No Allocation Timeline
Buying land should come with clarity, not confusion. But one of the biggest red flags in Nigerian real estate is the vague or missing allocation timeline.
If you were promised that it would happen soon, “Soon” could mean months… or even years. And in some unfortunate cases, it might never happen at all. And without allocation, you can’t access your land. You can’t build on it or resell it. In other words, you don’t truly own it yet.
A trustworthy seller or developer will always tell you when allocation will happen and they’ll put it in writing. If they can’t give you a timeline, or they brush it off like it’s not a big deal, you should be worried. The land might not even be ready or available.
5. Too Good To Be True Pricing
In real estate, when something feels too good to be true, it usually is.
Prices that are way below market value often come with strings attached:
– Legal issues
– Unclear ownership
– Government acquisition
– Zero development plans
Developers might use these flashy prices to lure in unsuspecting buyers, only for you to discover the land isn’t usable, or worse, isn’t even theirs to sell.
A smarter move is to compare prices with similar listings in the area. If everyone else is selling land in that same location for ₦3M and one person is offering it for ₦500k, don’t just jump ask why because a good deal should feel solid, not suspicious.
6. No Professionals Involved
If you’re about to spend millions on land, you need more than just vibes and trust. Yet, many people go into real estate transactions without involving any professionals—no lawyer, no real estate expert, no surveyor.
Buying land is a serious investment that requires legal backing and due diligence. Skipping professional help might save you a little money upfront, but it could cost you everything down the line.
You need someone who can:
- Review documents before you sign anything
- Confirm that the land isn’t under dispute or acquisition
- Help you avoid sweet-talking agents with shady deals
Always involve a trusted lawyer or real estate professional in order to buy peace of mind alongside your land.
Buying land in Nigeria can be one of the smartest financial decisions you ever make—but only if you know what to watch out for.
So take your time. Ask the hard questions. Verify every document. Visit the site. Involve professionals. And never let urgency replace clarity because if you’re going to invest in something that important, then you deserve transparency every step of the way.
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