August 13, 2026
10 THINGS YOU NEED TO CHECK BEFORE YOU PAY
Land is one of the biggest purchases you'll ever make, and one of the easiest to get wrong. This first-time land buyer checklist walks you through the 10 things to check before buying land in Nigeria, from confirming true ownership to spotting government acquisition and family land disputes, explained in plain language with zero confusing jargon
10 Things You Need to Check Before You
Pay
A simple, practical guide for first-time land buyers explained in plain language, with
no confusing property jargon.
If this is your first time buying land, there's a good chance you're a little nervous. That's completely normal. Land is one of the biggest purchases most people will ever make, and stories of people who lost their hard-earned money to fake land or fake sellers are everywhere. You don't want to become one of those stories. The good news is, you don't need to be a lawyer or a property expert to buy land safely. You just need to know what to check, and in what order. This guide walks you through the 10 most important things to look at before you pay a single naira explained simply, the way we'd explain it to a friend or family member.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
• How to confirm land actually belongs to the person selling it
• What documents to ask for, and what they actually mean
• How to check that land is not under government acquisition
• Simple steps to inspect land properly before you pay
• What to do if something about the sale feels wrong
The 10 Things to Check Before You Pay
Work through these in order. Each one is simple on its own, together, they're what separates a safe purchase from an expensive mistake.
1. Confirm Who Really Owns the Land
Before anything else, find out who actually has the legal right to sell this land, not just who is showing it to you. Sometimes the person selling is a relative, a caretaker, or an agent, and not the real owner. Ask directly: “Are you the owner, or are you selling on someone else's behalf?” A genuine seller will answer this clearly and be able to prove it.
2. Ask for the Original Documents, Not Photocopies
Always ask to see original documents, not just photocopies or pictures sent on your phone. If someone keeps giving reasons why they can't show you the original “it's with my lawyer,” “it's in another city”, take that seriously. A genuine seller should be able to produce originals, or arrange a safe way for you to see them.
3. Understand What the Documents Actually Mean
You don't need to become a lawyer, but you should understand the basics. A Certificate of Occupancy (often called “C of O”) is a government document showing someone has the right to use that land. A Deed of Assignment is the paper showing land is being transferred from one person to another. Knowing what each document is supposed to prove helps you
ask better questions.
IMPORTANT
A document being real doesn't automatically mean the land is safe to buy. Even genuine documents can be attached to land with other problems, such as a family dispute or a double sale. Always check further, don't stop at “the paper looks real.”
4. Check If the Land Is Under Government Acquisition
Sometimes government has already taken over an area for its own use, this is called “government acquisition.” If land is still under acquisition, no individual or family can legally sell it to you, even with papers in hand. This is one of the most important, and most overlooked, things to check before you pay.
5. Visit the Land Yourself Before You Pay
Never rely only on pictures, videos, or someone's description. Go and see the land with your own eyes if at all possible. If you cannot travel yourself, send someone you trust completely, or ask a professional to inspect it on your behalf and report back honestly.
QUICK TIP
When you visit, take photos and videos of the land and its surroundings, and note any nearby landmarks. This helps you, or anyone assisting you, confirm later that the land you inspected is the same land described in the documents.
6. Check the Survey Plan and the Boundary Marks
A survey plan shows the exact size and shape of a piece of land, and where its boundaries are. On the ground, boundaries are usually marked with small concrete pillars called “beacons.” Make sure the beacons you see on site actually match what's written on the survey plan, sometimes the same plot has quietly been shown to more than one buyer.
7. If It's Family Land, Confirm the Whole Family Agrees
A lot of land in Nigeria is sold through families. Just because one family member, sometimes called an “Omonile” agrees to sell doesn't always mean the rest of the family has agreed too. This is one of the most common causes of land disputes after a purchase.
WATCH OUT
If only one person from a family is handling the entire sale, ask who else in the family needs to agree, and ask for proof that they do. A family receipt or a single signature is not the same as the family's full, documented consent.
8. Ask About All the Costs, Not Just the Price of the Land
The price you're quoted for the land is often not the only cost. There can be survey fees, documentation charges, agent fees, and other costs that surface later. Before you commit, ask for a full breakdown of everything you'll need to pay, from start to finish.
9. Do a Proper Check at the Land Registry
This is the step many first-time buyers skip, usually because they don't know it exists. A land registry search, typically done by a lawyer or surveyor on your behalf can confirm who the land is officially registered to, and whether any problems are already attached to it. It takes a little time, but it's worth it.
10. Never Let Anyone Rush You into Paying
Phrases like “this offer ends today” or “someone else is about to buy it” are designed to make you act before you've had time to think. A genuine seller, with genuine land, will still be genuine tomorrow. If you feel rushed, that alone is a reason to slow down.
Your Quick-Reference Checklist
Print this page, or save it, and run through it before you send any money.
☐ Confirm Who Really Owns the Land
☐ Ask for the Original Documents, Not Photocopies
☐ Understand What the Documents Actually Mean
☐ Check If the Land Is Under Government Acquisition
☐ Visit the Land Yourself Before You Pay
☐ Check the Survey Plan and the Boundary Marks
☐ If It's Family Land, Confirm the Whole Family Agrees
☐ Ask About All the Costs, Not Just the Price of the Land
☐ Do a Proper Check at the Land Registry
☐ Never Let Anyone Rush You Into Paying
Key Takeaways
• A genuine-looking document is not the same as a safe purchase, always verify further.
• Ownership and family agreement must be confirmed, not assumed.
• Visiting the land yourself is one of the most powerful checks you can do.
• A proper registry search can reveal problems no document will show you.
• If you ever feel rushed to pay, slow down, real opportunities don't disappear that fast.
Pay
A simple, practical guide for first-time land buyers explained in plain language, with
no confusing property jargon.
If this is your first time buying land, there's a good chance you're a little nervous. That's completely normal. Land is one of the biggest purchases most people will ever make, and stories of people who lost their hard-earned money to fake land or fake sellers are everywhere. You don't want to become one of those stories. The good news is, you don't need to be a lawyer or a property expert to buy land safely. You just need to know what to check, and in what order. This guide walks you through the 10 most important things to look at before you pay a single naira explained simply, the way we'd explain it to a friend or family member.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
• How to confirm land actually belongs to the person selling it
• What documents to ask for, and what they actually mean
• How to check that land is not under government acquisition
• Simple steps to inspect land properly before you pay
• What to do if something about the sale feels wrong
The 10 Things to Check Before You Pay
Work through these in order. Each one is simple on its own, together, they're what separates a safe purchase from an expensive mistake.
1. Confirm Who Really Owns the Land
Before anything else, find out who actually has the legal right to sell this land, not just who is showing it to you. Sometimes the person selling is a relative, a caretaker, or an agent, and not the real owner. Ask directly: “Are you the owner, or are you selling on someone else's behalf?” A genuine seller will answer this clearly and be able to prove it.
2. Ask for the Original Documents, Not Photocopies
Always ask to see original documents, not just photocopies or pictures sent on your phone. If someone keeps giving reasons why they can't show you the original “it's with my lawyer,” “it's in another city”, take that seriously. A genuine seller should be able to produce originals, or arrange a safe way for you to see them.
3. Understand What the Documents Actually Mean
You don't need to become a lawyer, but you should understand the basics. A Certificate of Occupancy (often called “C of O”) is a government document showing someone has the right to use that land. A Deed of Assignment is the paper showing land is being transferred from one person to another. Knowing what each document is supposed to prove helps you
ask better questions.
IMPORTANT
A document being real doesn't automatically mean the land is safe to buy. Even genuine documents can be attached to land with other problems, such as a family dispute or a double sale. Always check further, don't stop at “the paper looks real.”
4. Check If the Land Is Under Government Acquisition
Sometimes government has already taken over an area for its own use, this is called “government acquisition.” If land is still under acquisition, no individual or family can legally sell it to you, even with papers in hand. This is one of the most important, and most overlooked, things to check before you pay.
5. Visit the Land Yourself Before You Pay
Never rely only on pictures, videos, or someone's description. Go and see the land with your own eyes if at all possible. If you cannot travel yourself, send someone you trust completely, or ask a professional to inspect it on your behalf and report back honestly.
QUICK TIP
When you visit, take photos and videos of the land and its surroundings, and note any nearby landmarks. This helps you, or anyone assisting you, confirm later that the land you inspected is the same land described in the documents.
6. Check the Survey Plan and the Boundary Marks
A survey plan shows the exact size and shape of a piece of land, and where its boundaries are. On the ground, boundaries are usually marked with small concrete pillars called “beacons.” Make sure the beacons you see on site actually match what's written on the survey plan, sometimes the same plot has quietly been shown to more than one buyer.
7. If It's Family Land, Confirm the Whole Family Agrees
A lot of land in Nigeria is sold through families. Just because one family member, sometimes called an “Omonile” agrees to sell doesn't always mean the rest of the family has agreed too. This is one of the most common causes of land disputes after a purchase.
WATCH OUT
If only one person from a family is handling the entire sale, ask who else in the family needs to agree, and ask for proof that they do. A family receipt or a single signature is not the same as the family's full, documented consent.
8. Ask About All the Costs, Not Just the Price of the Land
The price you're quoted for the land is often not the only cost. There can be survey fees, documentation charges, agent fees, and other costs that surface later. Before you commit, ask for a full breakdown of everything you'll need to pay, from start to finish.
9. Do a Proper Check at the Land Registry
This is the step many first-time buyers skip, usually because they don't know it exists. A land registry search, typically done by a lawyer or surveyor on your behalf can confirm who the land is officially registered to, and whether any problems are already attached to it. It takes a little time, but it's worth it.
10. Never Let Anyone Rush You into Paying
Phrases like “this offer ends today” or “someone else is about to buy it” are designed to make you act before you've had time to think. A genuine seller, with genuine land, will still be genuine tomorrow. If you feel rushed, that alone is a reason to slow down.
Your Quick-Reference Checklist
Print this page, or save it, and run through it before you send any money.
☐ Confirm Who Really Owns the Land
☐ Ask for the Original Documents, Not Photocopies
☐ Understand What the Documents Actually Mean
☐ Check If the Land Is Under Government Acquisition
☐ Visit the Land Yourself Before You Pay
☐ Check the Survey Plan and the Boundary Marks
☐ If It's Family Land, Confirm the Whole Family Agrees
☐ Ask About All the Costs, Not Just the Price of the Land
☐ Do a Proper Check at the Land Registry
☐ Never Let Anyone Rush You Into Paying
Key Takeaways
• A genuine-looking document is not the same as a safe purchase, always verify further.
• Ownership and family agreement must be confirmed, not assumed.
• Visiting the land yourself is one of the most powerful checks you can do.
• A proper registry search can reveal problems no document will show you.
• If you ever feel rushed to pay, slow down, real opportunities don't disappear that fast.