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.
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Business
Exclusive: LAGRIDE Drivers Reject Monthly Salary Model For Drive-to-Own
CIG Motors has replaced the drive-to-own scheme with a salaried model, where drivers earn a fixed monthly salary of ₦150,000.

LagRide drivers are rejecting the new salary model introduced by Choice International Group (CIG), the distributor of GAC motors in Nigeria.
CIG Motors recently took over the full operational control of LagRide from the Lagos State Government, including the management of the vehicles and drivers.
LagRide, a ride-hailing service in Lagos, Nigeria, is owned and operated by a partnership between the Lagos State government and CIG Motors, since 2021, as an alternative to the rickety yellow and black-coloured taxis scattered across the city.
Ohibaba learned that, following the March 2025 full takeover, CIG had replaced the previous drive-to-own scheme with a salaried model for drivers.
Drive-to-Own Scheme:
The previous scheme allowed drivers to lease GAC vehicles through a down payment and daily installments.
Salaried Model:
CIG Motors has replaced the drive-to-own scheme with a salaried model, where drivers earn a fixed monthly salary of ₦150,000.
Some of the drivers who spoke with our Reporter are complaining that the monthly salary model isn’t favourable, and would likely switch to competitors, the likes of Bolt and Uber.
It was further gathered that the new management of LagRide has commenced retraining programmes for the drivers, batch by batch.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, initiated LagRide as a solution to improve mobility and provide a multi-modal transportation system for Lagosians.
Purpose of LagRide:
LagRide aims to provide a more modern and reliable alternative to the traditional, often rickety, taxis that were previously prevalent in Lagos.
Business
DStv Subscription: Court dismisses MultiChoice suit against FCCPC

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by MultiChoice Nigeria, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, challenging the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) intervention following a recent hike in subscription cost.
In the judgment, Justice James Omotoso ruled that the suit constituted an abuse of court process as similar proceedings were already pending elsewhere.
The judge stressed that MultiChoice should have pursued its arguments in that court. He said if that was done it would have rendered the suit at the Federal High Court procedurally inappropriate.
Justice Omotoso noted that while the Commission has investigative powers under its establishing Act, it, however, lacks the authority to fix or suspend prices unless as delegated by the President through a gazetted instrument. No such delegation was presented to the court.
“The power to fix prices is exclusively that of the President. Any decision taken without such delegation is a nullity,” the judge stated.
He added that because Nigeria operates a free market system, service providers like MultiChoice have the right to set their prices, with consumers free to accept or reject them.
The judge further ruled that FCCPC’s actions, including directing MultiChoice to suspend its price increase, is in breach of the company’s right to fair hearing and appeared selectively targeted.
He dismissed the FCCPC’s claim that MultiChoice held a dominant market position, calling the argument untenable.
“The use of services like those provided by the plaintiff is discretionary and not essential. Nigeria can do without it,” Justice Omotosho added.
The judge thereby warned that attempts to fix prices by regulatory bodies could scare off potential investors and harm the economy.
The court held that while the FCCPC may investigate market practices, it cannot impose price controls without proper legal backing.
MultiChoice had increased subscription rates by up to 25% on March 1, 2025, citing inflation and the attendant rose in operational cost.
Following public outcry, the FCCPC opposed the move, calling for regulatory review and threatening sanctions, prompting the lawsuit.
Business
FG Announces New Procurement Policy Shift Favouring Local Manufacturing

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a “Nigeria First Policy” aimed at prioritising the use of locally made goods and services in all government procurements.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, made the disclosure saying that the policy seeks to domesticate all government processes.
The Nigerian government expects that with the new policy, local manufacturers will get priority in the provision of goods and services.
“No procurement of foreign goods or services already available locally shall proceed without justification, and where there is an exceptional need for these services to procure from outside, there must be a waiver to be obtained, written waiver to be obtained by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP),” Mr Idris said.
“Where no viable local option exists, contracts must include provisions for technology transfer, local production or skills development.
For example, the provision of portal allocations under the sugar master plan should take into consideration participants’ backwards integration plans and investment in Nigeria and ensure compliance with the Master Plan.
“The MDAs have also been directed to immediately conduct an audit of all procurement plans and submit revised versions in line with these directives. Breaches will attract sanctions, including cancellation of procurement processes by such MDAS, and indeed disciplinary action against responsible officers,” the minister noted.
The federal cabinet approved these proposals on Monday and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation has been directed to prepare an Executive Order to be issued by President Bola Tinubu.
This is a major shift in government policy, Mr Idris added. “It puts Nigeria – not foreign companies, not imports – at the heart of our national development.”Once signed into law, Mr Idris said, the legislation will “foster a new business culture that will be bold, confident, but also very, very Nigerian, and it aims at making the government invest in our people and our industries by changing how the government spends money, how we procure and how we also build our economy.”“Going forward, Nigerian industry will take precedence in all procurement processes,” the minister said.
This is a major shift in government policy, Mr Idris added. “It puts Nigeria – not foreign companies, not imports – at the heart of our national development.
”Once signed into law, Mr Idris said, the legislation will “foster a new business culture that will be bold, confident, but also very, very Nigerian, and it aims at making the government invest in our people and our industries by changing how the government spends money, how we procure and how we also build our economy.”
Where local supply falls short, contracts will be structured to build capacity domestically, according to Mr Idris. “Contractors will no longer serve as intermediaries sourcing foreign goods where local factories die. I take the example of the sugar industry.”
“For example, we still have so much importation of sugar coming into this country, yet we have the Nigerian sugar council that was set up to look inward to see how sugar production can be produced, you know, for the benefit of Nigerians.
President Tinubu has proposed that we will no longer just sit there and allow importation to come into this country where there is the capacity for production of these commodities locally.
Now, as I said, the president has proposed the following directives, and all of them have been approved by the Federal Executive Council.”
President Tinubu has proposed that we will no longer just sit there and allow importation to come into this country where there is the capacity for production of these commodities locally. Now, as I said, the president has proposed the following directives, and all of them have been approved by the Federal Executive Council.”
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