Buying properties is a serious matter in Nigeria.
One of the ways you can save yourself from disappointing or regrettable investments is to work with the right real estate agent.
And, to discern a solid agent, you have to ask the right questions.
Here are 7 hard questions you should ask any agent before you buy land in Nigeria.
Screen Your Real Estate Agent With These Questions Before Buying Land
For each of these questions, we’ve added a practical explanation and the legal or technical reason it matters. Consider this a checklist to use the next time you meet an agent.
1. Who actually holds legal title, and can I see the original documents?
Ask the agent to produce the original title documents (Certificate of Occupancy, Deed of Assignment, allocation letter, or purchase receipt).
Don’t accept scanned pictures or vague descriptions.
The C of O (or valid alternative title) is the single most important document: it’s the instrument through which the state grants occupancy rights and the starting point for any lawful transfer.
If the seller is a company, request corporate documents (a CAC extract and a board resolution) to verify its authority to sell.
2. Has Governor’s Consent been obtained (or will it be required)?
Under Nigerian land law, transfers of a statutory right of occupancy normally require the Governor’s Consent; if you buy without it, the transfer can be rendered void, and you’ll have a costly fight to regularize ownership.
Ask whether consent is already on file, who applied for it, and how long the consent process took for similar transfers in that state.
Expect to pay statutory fees and allow months for processing.
I’ve managed purchases where the vendor promised to handle consent only after payment, a red flag.
Always insist on a written timeline and, better, that the seller procures consent before final payment or places your funds in a solicitor’s escrow pending consent.
3. Is the chain of title clean? Any encumbrances, mortgages, or litigation?
A clean title means the land has a documented, unbroken history of lawful transfers and no outstanding mortgages, caveats, court suits, or tax liens.
Ask the agent for evidence of searches at the Land Registry and a statement of encumbrances.
Do an independent search yourself (or have your lawyer do it):
- Registration records
- Court dockets
- Tax records
These will reveal charges or pending disputes.
4. Is the survey plan original and verified? Do the coordinates match the site?
Land is sold on paper and on the ground.
Ask for the official survey plan number and insist you or a licensed surveyor verify the red or official copy at the Surveyor-General’s office.
Confirm that beacons are in place, coordinates match GPS readings on site, and that the plan has the surveyor’s seal and lodgement stamp.
Fake plans and mismatched coordinates are standard in off-plan and peri-urban sales.
5. What are the planning or zoning constraints, access, and utilities?
This question is to really answer: can you build what you want?
Land can be technically “free” but practically useless if it’s in a floodplain, within a pipeline or transmission right-of-way, reserved as government/excised land, or zoned for agricultural use only.
Ask which planning authority covers the site, whether the plot is excised for development, if it has road access, and what utilities (water, power, sewage) are available or easily provided.
If you plan a gated estate or multi-storey building, confirm that the local planning office will permit your proposed housing density.
We’ve heard stories from our in-house lawyers where clients who bought cheap “peripheral” plots only to discover a planned road would slice off half the site.
It’s a preventable loss had they checked the planning maps early.
6. How will payments be handled, and what protections do I get?
Never pay large sums in cash or into a personal account with no paper trail.
Agree on staged payments tied to deliverables (e.g., deposit on exchange, balance on registration, and Governor’s Consent), and demand official receipts for every transfer.
Where possible, route funds through an escrow account managed by your lawyer or a reputable solicitor, so that money is released only when the agreed-upon conditions are met.
You should treat deposits as refundable where key documents are missing.
7. What are the practical red flags, and what’s your exit strategy?
Ask the agent bluntly what could make the deal collapse and how you would recover your deposit. Red flags include:
- Multiple agents claiming the same plot
- Inability to produce originals
- Mismatched names on title documents and IDs
- No access road or visible beacons
- An agent is pressuring you to pay “today only.”
Have an exit plan written into your offer letter, including deposit return timelines, dispute resolution details (such as the applicable court or arbitration), and who bears the legal fees if the seller misrepresents the title.
If you’re particular about tactics to avoid land scams, then consider reading this separate article on how to avoid land scams.
What To Ask For Immediately
When you meet the real estate agent, ask for:
- Originals of the title documents
- The survey plan number for verification
- Proof of payment of land use taxes or rates
- Evidence of Governor’s Consent (if purportedly granted)
- Company documents for corporate sellers
- A recent land registry search.
It’s even better to bring a licensed surveyor and a lawyer before you sign anything.
If you must move quickly, put a time-limited, conditional purchase agreement in place that makes payment contingent on satisfactory registry and survey verification and the issuance (or lodgement) of the Governor’s Consent.
Buy/Sell Land in Lagos with RentHouseSurulere
At RentHouseSurulere, we understand the risks involved in buying or selling land in Lagos. That’s why we’ve built our entire business around trust, transparency, and verified processes.
Here’s how we operate:
- Every property we list undergoes a thorough background check, which includes title verification, ownership validation, and a review of legal documentation.
- We’re registered with LASRERA and work hand in hand with certified lawyers, registered surveyors, and accredited valuers.
- We offer virtual property tours, video calls, and secure digital agreements, allowing you to buy with confidence from anywhere.
- All transactions are routed through our official, verified company accounts and never through personal accounts or agents.
- Our website and social media channels give you access to real estate guides, blog articles, and expert interviews.
Our happy clients, glowing reviews, and repeat referrals demonstrate that when it comes to real estate in Lagos, RentHouseSurulere is the name you can trust.
The Bottom Line
The essence of asking these questions is that agents are to be treated as helpful facilitators, not a substitute for your own legal and technical checks.
The state and general location you’re targeting for the land will also determine the exact documents and registry offices you should contact.
However, these seven questions will help you discern if the real estate agent is legit for your property purchase.
READ ALSO: Real Estate Agents: A Gift or a Curse
