Nigeria’s real estate market is booming — but so are the scams. From Lagos to Owerri, thousands of people lose millions to fraudulent agents, fake documents, and shady deals every year.
If you’re planning to buy land or property in Nigeria in 2025, this guide will save you from heartbreak, legal battles, or total loss.
🧠 Table of Contents
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The “Omonile” Scam
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Fake C of O & Land Titles
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Multiple Sales to Different Buyers
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Agents Who Disappear After Payment
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Estate Company “Pre-Sale” Traps
✅ How to Protect Yourself
1. 🧓 The “Omonile” Scam
“Omonile” refers to land-owning families — but not every omonile is genuine.
🚩 The scam: You buy land from one “family head,” only for another family member to show up and claim it too.
💸 Outcome: You either lose the land or pay twice.
✅ What to do:
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Always involve a lawyer.
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Ask for a family resolution letter or court-recognized power of attorney.
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Avoid land without proper documentation.
2. 📝 Fake C of O & Land Titles
Fraudsters now print fake Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), Deed of Assignment, Excision, and Gazette papers.
🚩 The scam: You receive a beautiful title document — but it was never registered with the Ministry of Lands.
💸 Outcome: Your land is invalid and you lose everything.
✅ What to do:
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Conduct a land search at the state registry.
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Verify land titles with LASRERA or a licensed surveyor.
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Crosscheck layout plans and beacon numbers.
3. 🤯 Selling to Multiple Buyers
A popular scam in Lagos, Abuja, and Ogun: The same plot is sold to 3–5 buyers.
🚩 The scam: Seller collects deposit from multiple people. Whoever pays fastest gets the allocation.
💸 Outcome: You may end up in court for years — or lose both money and land.
✅ What to do:
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Use escrow or trusted real estate lawyers.
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Demand a receipt with date, coordinates, and witnesses.
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Avoid agents who pressure you to pay same-day.
4. 🕵️ Agents Who Disappear After Payment
These scammers show you nice plots, collect money, and vanish. Sometimes, even the “office” doesn’t exist.
🚩 The scam: After paying “₦1.5M for 2 plots,” calls stop going through.
💸 Outcome: No land, no refund, no trace.
✅ What to do:
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Research agents online (check reviews, CAC registration).
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Don’t pay 100% upfront without verified documents.
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Only deal with traceable, registered companies.
5. 🏗️ Estate Company “Pre-Sale” Traps
Some estate companies offer land “under development” at cheap prices — but never deliver.
🚩 The scam: You pay for 600sqm in Ibeju-Lekki. 2 years later, no allocation, no construction, no title.
💸 Outcome: Lost opportunity + rising prices elsewhere.
✅ What to do:
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Visit the site physically.
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Check if the company has past projects or verifiable track record.
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Ask for allocation timeline and land title type upfront.
✅ How to Protect Yourself in 2025
✔️ Always involve a lawyer — even if the land is cheap.
✔️ Do a land search at the Ministry of Lands.
✔️ Use platforms like PropertyPro.ng or Nigeria Property Centre with vetted listings.
✔️ Verify estate companies through CAC.gov.ng or social proof.
✔️ If buying from abroad, use reputable diaspora platforms or assign a trusted rep.
📍 Real Case Study
Chuka, a diaspora buyer in the UK, bought land in Abuja for ₦3.2M in 2023. It came with a fancy C of O. He returned to Nigeria in 2024 — only to find 3 other buyers with the same documents.
He’s still in court.
Don’t be like Chuka. Verify everything. Ask questions. And don’t rush.
