Seven Things to Check Before You Buy Land in Lagos

Most land disputes in Lagos are not sophisticated. They come down to a buyer who did not ask for a document, did not visit a registry, or did not walk the boundary. Here is what to check, in the order that matters.

1. The title, by name

Ask what title the land carries and expect a specific answer. In Lagos that usually means one of: a Certificate of Occupancy, issued by the state and granting a right of occupancy for a term of up to 99 years; Governor's Consent, which is what you need when land that already carries a C of O changes hands; or an excision and gazette, where government has released land from community ownership and published that release in the official gazette.

"The land is genuine" is not a title. If a seller cannot name the document, stop there.

2. A registry search, done by your own lawyer

A title search at the Lagos State Lands Registry is the single most useful thing you can do. Reported legal fees for a search run in the region of ₦50,000 to ₦150,000. Against a plot costing millions, there is no rational argument for skipping it.

Use your own lawyer, not one introduced by the seller.

3. The survey plan, and whether the land is under government acquisition

A registered surveyor can take the coordinates on the survey plan and confirm two things: that the plan matches the land you were shown, and that the parcel does not sit under government acquisition or a committed road alignment. Land under acquisition can be reclaimed with no compensation to you.

4. The deed of assignment

Even where the underlying title is sound, the deed of assignment is what shows ownership actually moved to you. It has to be properly executed and registered. A strong title in someone else's name protects them, not you.

5. The ground itself

Walk it. Look for standing water, reeds and the level of the surrounding land, and go back during the rains if you can. Sand-filling a waterlogged plot can cost a serious fraction of what you paid for it, and that cost never appears on a flier.

6. Who you are actually paying

Pay a registered company account, never an individual. Confirm the account directly with the company on a number you sourced yourself rather than one sent to you in a message. Impersonation of legitimate developers is common, and it is the point at which most money is lost for good.

Lagos has a regulator: the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, LASRERA. It recovered more than ₦270 million from fraudulent agents between 2025 and 2026. Check that whoever you are dealing with is registered.

7. What you are being sold, exactly

Land, or land plus a building? A price that quietly mixes the two is how buyers end up surprised. Get it in writing: the plot size, the price for the land itself, what infrastructure the developer is committing to, and when.

A note on urgency

"This price ends today" is a sales technique, not a market condition. Any seller who will not let you complete these seven checks before you pay has told you everything you need to know.