Business
Why Is Due Diligence Important in Real Estate?
It’s not enough to trust a seller or rely on promises. You have to investigate every detail before committing to a property.
By Dennis Isong
In September 2023, I received a call from Tunde, one of my YouTube subscribers.
He said, “Dennis, I’ve been following your videos for nine months. I wish I had called you earlier.
His voice sounded heavy, and I could tell something was wrong.
Tunde shared his story. A few months earlier, he had found a piece of land in Sangotedo.
It was near a proposed shopping mall, and the seller promised him the price would double in a few years.
Excited by the opportunity, Tunde quickly paid a deposit and began making big plans for the land. But his excitement didn’t last long.
Two months after making the payment, Tunde discovered that the land was under government acquisition. It couldn’t be sold or developed legally.
The seller, who had been so convincing, had disappeared. Tunde lost his money and his dream.
He called me to share his heartbreak and said, “Dennis, if only I had known. Is there anything I could have done to avoid this?”
Tunde’s story is a painful reminder of the dangers of skipping due diligence.
It’s not enough to trust a seller or rely on promises. You have to investigate every detail before committing to a property.
What is Due Diligence?
Due diligence is the process of carefully checking a property before you buy it. It’s like a safety net that protects your money and your dreams. When you do due diligence, you:
● Confirm the seller owns the property.
● Check if the land is free from government acquisition or disputes.
● Verify that the property meets all legal requirements. Tunde skipped this step, and it cost him everything.
Why Due Diligence Matters
1. To Avoid Legal Problems
Imagine buying land, only to find out it belongs to the government or someone else. You could lose your money and face years of legal battles. Due diligence helps you: – Confirm ownership. – Avoid family or land disputes. – Ensure the land is safe to buy.
2. To Protect Your Money
Real estate is expensive, and losing your investment can be devastating. Without due diligence, you could: – Buy land already sold to others. – Purchase property with hidden issues like unpaid taxes. – Overpay for land that’s not worth the price.
3. To Avoid Regret
Tunde now regrets rushing into his purchase without asking the right questions or verifying the seller’s claims. His story shows how skipping due diligence can lead to heartbreak.
Learn From Tunde’s Experience
Tunde’s mistake isn’t uncommon. Many people rush into buying land without checking the details.
But real estate is a serious investment, and taking shortcuts can lead to financial and emotional pain. What Can You Do to Protect Yourself? Before buying land, always:
1. Verify ownership: Check the property’s title and ownership.
2. Investigate the land’s status: Ensure it’s not under government acquisition or involved in disputes.
3. Work with professionals: Hire a lawyer or real estate expert to guide you.
Your Investment Deserves Protection
Tunde’s story is a hard lesson, but it’s one we can all learn from. Don’t let excitement or urgency make you skip due diligence.
Take your time, do the research, and ask for help. In real estate, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
STOP LOSING MONEY IN LAGOS REAL ESTATE! Learn How to Verify Land Titles and Avoid Scams.
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Let’s make your next investment a safe and successful one!
Business
NTA didn’t introduce VAT on charges collected by banks — NRS
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) wishes to address and correct misleading narratives circulating in sections of the media suggesting that Value Added Tax (VAT) has been newly introduced on banking services, fees, commissions, or electronic money transfers.
Photo: NRS chairman, Zacch Adedeji
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has clarified that the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) did not introduce VAT on banking charges, nor did it impose any new tax obligation on customers in this regard.
In a statement made available to newsmen and signed by Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the NRS chairman, Zacch Adedeji, the service said the claims are incorrect.
According to the NRS, VAT has always applied to banking services and was not introduced by the Nigeria Tax Act.
The statement reads:
“The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) wishes to address and correct misleading narratives circulating in sections of the media suggesting that Value Added Tax (VAT) has been newly introduced on banking services, fees, commissions, or electronic money transfers.
This claim is categorically incorrect.
“VAT has always applied to fees, commissions, and charges for services rendered by banks and other financial institutions under Nigeria’s long-established VAT regime.”
Business
LIRS gives employers Jan 31 deadline for filing 2025 tax returns
The Executive Chairman of LIRS, Dr Ayodele Subair, who gave the directive on Thursday, reminded employers that the obligation to file annual returns is in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025.
The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service(LIRS) fixed statutory deadline of January 31, 2026, for all employers of labour in the state to file their annual tax returns for the 2025 financial year.
The Executive Chairman of LIRS, Dr Ayodele Subair, who gave the directive on Thursday, reminded employers that the obligation to file annual returns is in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025.
Subair explained that employers are required to file detailed returns on emoluments and compensation paid to their employees, as well as payments made to service providers, vendors, and consultants, and to ensure that all applicable taxes due for the 2025 year are fully remitted.
He emphasised that the filing of annual returns is a mandatory legal obligation and warned that failure to comply would attract statutory sanctions, including administrative penalties, as prescribed under the new tax law.
Business
Nigeria To Review Inflation Reporting First Time In 15 years
The agency said the expected spike in December inflation did not reflect actual price movements in the economy but was largely a statistical distortion caused by the rebasing of the Consumer Price Index.
Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has announced plans to revise its inflation reporting methodology.
This followed concerns that December’s year-on-year figure may be artificially inflated due to the impact of last year’s rebasing exercise.
The agency said the expected spike in December inflation did not reflect actual price movements in the economy but was largely a statistical distortion caused by the rebasing of the Consumer Price Index.
Reuters reported that the rebasing, the first in 15 years, adopted December 2024 as the index reference point.
Officials explained that the change is likely to exaggerate the year-on-year inflation figure for December without accurately capturing prevailing market trends.
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