Nigeria: Construction & Planning

A piece of land can look like an excellent investment and still be legally unsuitable for the project you have in mind. In Nigeria, a buyer may discover after payment that the property is affected by government acquisition, a reservation, a proposed infrastructure corridor, competing claims or restrictions on its use. This is why checking the title alone is not enough. Before buying land in Nigeria, investors should establish who has the legal interest in the property, whether that interest can be transferred, whether the land is affected by government acquisition and whether it can legally be used for the proposed development.

In Lagos State, a foreigner can lawfully acquire an interest in land, but the transaction must be structured properly and comply with the applicable legal and regulatory rules.

The fear of property demolition in Lagos is a stark reality that shapes the conversation in the real estate business. You've likely heard the common phrase from investors: "I have my building approval."