Diaspora Buyer's Safety Guide 2
🧠 Quick Summary
Buying land in Lagos as a Nigerian in the diaspora can be one of your most rewarding investments or your biggest headache. The distance creates a "trust gap" that fraudsters often exploit. To secure your investment in 2026, follow this safety guide designed specifically for remote buyers.
Buying land in Lagos as a Nigerian in the diaspora can be one of your most rewarding investments or your biggest headache. The distance creates a "trust gap" that fraudsters often exploit.
To secure your investment in 2026, follow this safety guide designed specifically for remote buyers.
1. The "Golden Rule": Professionals Over Family
While it’s tempting to involve relatives to save costs, statistics show that a significant portion of diaspora real estate fraud involves "trusted" family members.
- **Hire a Lagos-Based Property Lawyer: You need an independent advocate whose loyalty is to you, not the seller or your family. They will handle the "Search" at the Land Registry.
- Power of Attorney (PoA): Do not just send money. Execute a PoA (notarized in your country of residence) that authorizes your lawyer or a vetted representative to sign documents on your behalf.
2. Digital Due Diligence (Lagos e-GIS)
Lagos State has modernized its land administration. You no longer need to rely on word-of-mouth.
- Lagos e-GIS Portal: Use the Lagos State Land Online portal to conduct a Certified True Copy (CTC) search.
- Charting: Have a licensed surveyor take the coordinates of the land and "chart" them at the Surveyor General’s office to ensure the land isn't under Government Acquisition or designated as a "Committed" area (e.g., for future roads or drainage).
3. Financial Safety Protocols
Never wire money to a personal bank account.
- Corporate Accounts Only: Payments should only go to the verified corporate account of the real estate company or a lawyer’s Escrow/Client Account.
- Foreign Inward Remittance (FIR): When sending funds from abroad, ensure your bank issues an FIR certificate. This is crucial for future repatriation of funds if you ever decide to sell the property.
- Milestone Payments: For off-plan or estate developments, use a payment plan tied to specific construction or documentation milestones.
4. Verification Checklist for Diaspora
Before you hit "send" on that transfer, confirm these four pillars:
Pillar
What to Verify
Identity
Is the seller the actual owner? Request their NIN or CAC documents (if a company).
Title
Does the land have a C of O, Governor’s Consent, or Gazette?
Physical
Request a geo-tagged video of the land. The video should show the surveyor’s beacons and surrounding landmarks.
TIN
Obtain a Nigerian Tax Identification Number (TIN). You will need this for the Governor’s Consent process in 2026.
5. Red Flags for Remote Buyers
- The "Hurry" Scam: "Someone else is bringing cash tonight, pay now to secure it."
- No "Governor’s Consent": If a seller says "you don't need it," they are lying. It is the only way to legally transfer a "Right of Occupancy" in Lagos.
- Price is Too Good: If land in a prime area like Lekki Phase 1 or Ikeja GRA is priced significantly below market value, it’s almost certainly a scam or a disputed family land.
Pro Tip: Always insist on a Virtual Inspection. Have your representative do a live video call from the site so you can see the terrain, drainage, and "Omo Onile" (land grabber) activity in real-time.