Connect with us

Business

Real Estate Due Diligence: What Every Buyer Must Check Before Paying in Lagos State by Dennis Isong

Avoid lands tagged as “committed”—this means the government has already planned something for that area.

Published

on

250 Views

Mr. Samuel had finally saved enough to buy his dream plot in Lagos. He was tired of renting and wanted a piece of land to call his own.

One day, he came across a well-dressed agent who promised him a juicy deal—a prime piece of land in Ibeju-Lekki at an unbelievably low price.

The agent assured him that everything was “clean.” No Omo Onile drama, no government wahala. Mr. Samuel was excited.

He visited the land once, saw a few other buyers inspecting, and felt reassured. Without conducting any serious checks, he quickly made payment.

The agent even arranged for a “lawyer” to draft a deed of assignment. Everything seemed perfect.

Two months later, Mr. Samuel decided to start building. That was when the nightmare began. A group of fierce-looking men stormed the site, shouting that the land belonged to their family.

They claimed they never sold it to anyone. Confused and scared, Mr. Samuel tried calling the agent—his number was switched off.

The “lawyer” who drafted his deed had disappeared too. He went to the Lagos State Land Registry, only to discover that the land was government-acquired. Mr. Samuel had lost everything.

His hard-earned savings, his dreams, and his peace of mind. This could have been avoided if only he had done proper due diligence before paying.

What is Due Diligence in Real Estate?

Due diligence means verifying everything about a property before committing to buy it. It’s like running a background check to make sure you are not about to throw your money into a trap.

Lagos is notorious for real estate fraud—Omo Onile disputes, fake land documents, and government-acquired properties being resold illegally. One wrong move and you could lose millions.

So, before you pay a kobo, here are the critical things you must check:

1. Confirm Ownership: Who Really Owns the Land?

Never assume the person selling the land is the real owner. People sell land they don’t own every day in Lagos. Some are tenants or relatives of the real owner, while others are pure scammers.

What to Do:

●      Ask for the title documents (C of O, Deed of Assignment, Governor’s Consent, or Survey Plan).

●      Go to the Lagos State Land Registry (Alausa) to verify the document. If the land is not registered, don’t buy it.

●      If it’s family land, ensure all family members involved sign the documents to avoid future disputes.

2. Verify Land Title and Documents

Even if the seller shows you a C of O, don’t trust it blindly. Fake C of Os and land documents flood the market. Some lands also have government restrictions, meaning they can be demolished anytime.

What to Do:

●      Conduct a search at the Lagos State Lands Bureau to verify if the title is genuine.

●      Cross-check survey plans at the Office of the Surveyor-General to confirm the land’s coordinates and whether it falls under government acquisition.

●      Engage a trusted real estate lawyer to help you review the documents.

3. Check for Government Acquisition Issues Lagos State is aggressive when it comes to land acquisition. Some lands are meant for future government projects but are still being illegally sold to unsuspecting buyers.

What to Do: ●      Visit the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to check if the land is under acquisition.

●      Avoid lands tagged as “committed”—this means the government has already planned something for that area.

4. Conduct a Physical Inspection—Don’t Rely on Photos Many buyers have fallen victim to real estate scams because they paid for land they never saw. Some agents take buyers to a different land, collect money, and disappear.

What to Do:

●      Visit the land multiple times—morning, afternoon, and evening. ●      Talk to neighbors and ask questions about the land’s history.

●      Check for any signs of disputes (e.g., different people laying claims to the land).

5. Avoid Verbal Agreements—Everything Must Be in Writing Many people have lost money because they trusted verbal agreements. Some sellers will promise you land and later deny ever meeting you.

What to Do:

●      Ensure you have a proper sales agreement signed by both parties.

●      The agreement should be prepared by a trusted lawyer, not the seller’s lawyer (to avoid conflict of interest).

●      Every payment must be documented, and receipts issued.

6. Investigate the Seller or Real Estate Company Some real estate companies in Lagos operate like Ponzi schemes.

They sell lands that don’t belong to them, promising fake allocations.

Before you pay, verify! Before you sign, investigate! Before you trust, confirm! And if you need expert guidance, reach out to a trusted real estate professional (like me) who can help you avoid the pitfalls.

What to Do:

●      Research the company’s history and reviews from past buyers.

●      Confirm their RC number and check if they are registered with CAC.

●      Visit their physical office and ask tough questions. 7. Beware of Omo Onile Wahala Omo Onile (land grabbers) can frustrate landowners with illegal fees and disturbances.

They can show up after purchase, demanding extra money or threatening to seize the land.

What to Do:

●      Buy land in secured estates to avoid Omo Onile drama.

●      If buying directly from a family, ensure ALL family members agree to the sale.

●      Have a lawyer draft an indemnity clause in your agreement to protect you from future Omo Onile claims.

8. Know the Land Use Purpose

Not all lands are meant for residential buildings. Some are strictly for commercial, agricultural, or industrial use.

What to Do:

●      Check the zoning regulations at the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning.

●      If you’re buying for business, ensure you won’t run into legal troubles later.

Don’t Let Greed and Urgency Lead You Into a Trap Many people fall victim to real estate scams because they are in a rush or want “cheap land.”

Lagos is a tough market—if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Remember Mr. Ade’s story? Don’t let it happen to you. No matter how urgent the deal seems, take your time to verify everything.

Due diligence is not a waste of time; it’s the only thing standing between you and financial disaster.

Before you pay, verify! Before you sign, investigate! Before you trust, confirm! And if you need expert guidance, reach out to a trusted real estate professional (like me) who can help you avoid the pitfalls.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

CPPE Tasks Govt to Fix Cost of Living Crisis Amid GDP Growth

Reacting on Nigeria’s third quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 3.98 percent , CPPE said that it’s laudable, but called for policy interventions to fix the cost of living crisis.

Published

on

By

36 Views

The Center for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE) tasks the government to ensure that GDP Growth and macroeconomic stability translate into real improvements in citizens’ welfare.

Reacting on Nigeria’s third quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 3.98 percent , CPPE said that it’s laudable, but called for policy interventions to fix the cost of living crisis.

Dr Muda Yusuf, CEO of the CPPE, notes that despite the improvment in the GDP, the cost-of-living crisis remains a concern .

He said: ” While disinflation is underway and prices of some food items and manufactured products are easing, the social outcomes of economic reforms continue to weigh on households.

” It is therefore imperative for policymaking to prioritise targeted interventions to address the uneasiness around the cost of living and ensure that GDP Growth and macroeconomic stability translate into real improvements in citizens’ welfare—particularly for vulnerable groups.”

To consolidate the gains recorded in Q3 and unlock stronger, more inclusive growth, Dr Yusuf, said that the following policy interventions are critical:

Reduce Structural Bottlenecks

Address energy supply constraints, reduce logistics costs, improve port efficiency, and accelerate transport infrastructure development.

Mitigate the Cost-of-Living Crisis

Implement targeted social interventions and remove structural impediments that elevate consumer prices.

All tiers of government [local, state and federal] must sustain targeted interventions in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, transportation and energy to fix the cost of living crisis.  

Continue Reading

Business

Dangote Targets Nigeria Festive Season Monthly Supply of 1.5 billion litres of PMS

This represents 50 million litres per day. We are formally notifying the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of this commitment.

Published

on

By

40 Views

Dangote Petroleum Refinery says that it has concluded arrangements to supply over 50 million litres of petrol per day into the Nigerian market this festive season (December to January).

The company said that the decision was taken to ensure that there is no shortage of the product during the festive season.

This translates to 1.5 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for the month of December.

The same amount of product will also be supplied in January 2026, it was added.

President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, announced the plans.

Dangote said: “In line with our commitment to national well-being, and consistent with our track record of ensuring a holiday season free of fuel scarcity, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery will supply 1.5 billion litres of PMS to the Nigerian market this month.

This represents 50 million litres per day. We are formally notifying the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of this commitment.

We will supply another 1.5 billion litres in January and increase to 1.75 billion litres in February, which translates to over 60 million litres per day.”

Speaking during a visit by the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) to the refinery and the Dangote Fertiliser complex, he stated that the facility currently has adequate stock and is producing between 40 and 45 million litres of PMS daily.

He added that the daily supply of 50 million litres should dispel long-standing claims that domestic refineries lack the capacity to meet national demand.

Continue Reading

Business

Dangote Partners Honeywell International to Boost Refinery Capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day

Published

on

71 Views

Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest single-train petroleum refinery, has signed a landmark contract with U.S. industrial giant Honeywell International to execute a significant capacity upgrade that will boost the facility’s crude processing capability from the current 650,000 barrels per day to an ambitious 1.4 million barrels per day.

The multi-billion-dollar project, described by sources close to the deal as one of the largest refinery expansion initiatives globally in recent years, will involve the installation of advanced process units, automation systems, and energy-efficiency technologies supplied and integrated by Honeywell UOP and Honeywell Process Solutions.

Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, confirmed the partnership, stating: “This strategic collaboration with Honeywell will position the Dangote Refinery as one of the top five largest refineries in the world by capacity.

The upgrade will not only enhance our ability to meet Nigeria’s complete refined products demand but also establish the refinery as a major export hub for gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemicals across Africa and beyond.

”The expansion is expected to be implemented in phases, with key units including additional crude distillation, hydrocracking, and catalytic reforming modules.

Honeywell’s proprietary technologies are anticipated to improve yield of high-value products while reducing energy consumption and emissions.Upon completion, the 1.4 million bpd Dangote Refinery will surpass the current global top-tier facilities such as Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar Refinery (1.24 million bpd) and Paraguay’s planned 1.2 million bpd project, cementing its status as the world’s largest single-train refinery.

The project is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs during the construction and commissioning phases and further reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.

A spokesperson for Honeywell confirmed the award, saying the company was “honored to partner with Dangote on this transformative project that will reshape the African downstream landscape.

”Detailed timelines and the exact value of the contract were not disclosed, but industry analysts estimate the expansion could exceed $5–7 billion in total investment.

The statement said: Dangote Group is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Honeywell International Inc to support the next phase of expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

This collaboration will provide advanced technology and services that will enable the refinery to increase its processing capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, marking a major milestone in our long-term vision to build the world’s largest petroleum refining complex.

Through this agreement, Honeywell will supply specialised catalysts, equipment, and process technologies that will allow the refinery to process a broader slate of crude grades efficiently and to further enhance product quality and operational reliability.

Honeywell, a global Fortune 100 industrial and technology company, offers a wide portfolio of solutions across aviation, automotive, industrial automation, and advanced materials.

Honeywell’s division UOP has been a technology partner to Dangote since 2017, providing proprietary refining systems, catalyst regeneration equipment, high performance column trays, and heat exchanger technologies that support our best-in-class operations.

Dangote Group is also advancing its petrochemical footprint. As part of the wider collaboration, we are scaling our polypropylene capacity to 2.4 million metric tons annually using Honeywell’s Oleflex technology.

Polypropylene is a key industrial material widely used across packaging, manufacturing, and automotive applications.In addition to refining expansion, Dangote Group is progressing with the next phase of its fertiliser growth plan in Nigeria. We will increase our urea production capacity from 3 million metric tons to 9 million metric tons annually.

The existing plant consists of two trains of 1.5 million metric tons each. The expansion will add four additional trains to meet growing demand for high-quality fertiliser across Africa and global markets.

Dangote Group remains fully committed to delivering world-class industrial capacity, strengthening Nigeria’s energy security, and driving sustainable economic growth through long-term investment, innovation, and strategic global partnerships.

Continue Reading

Trending