Why land scams are so common
Land is one of the biggest purchases most Nigerians make, and the process involves documents many buyers have never seen before. That gap is where scams happen. The good news: almost every scam leaves warning signs, and a few simple checks stop most of them.
1. Selling the same land to several people
A seller collects payment for one plot from multiple buyers, then disappears or lets the buyers fight it out. Protect yourself: search the title at the Lands Registry, insist on physical allocation, and buy from developers with a track record of allocating every plot.
2. Land under government acquisition
The land looks fine, but it is committed to a government project and can be taken back. Protect yourself: always chart the survey plan at the Surveyor-General’s office before paying.
3. Fake or forged documents
Photocopied or altered C of Os, fake survey plans and invented gazettes. Protect yourself: verify documents at the Lands Registry and Surveyor-General’s office through your own lawyer. Never rely on photocopies alone.
4. Sellers who don't own the land
A relative, caretaker or agent sells land that belongs to someone else. Protect yourself: match the seller to the title, and insist on a registered Power of Attorney if they act for the owner. For family land, get signatures from the head of family and principal members.
5. Omonile and surprise levies
After you buy, people appear demanding money for “foundation”, “roofing” or “family consent”. Protect yourself: ask the community and seller about levies before buying, get agreements in writing, and prefer estates where the developer handles community relations.
6. 'Too cheap to be true' prices
A plot in a prime area at half the market price usually has a problem: acquisition, disputes or no access. Protect yourself: compare with three recent sales nearby and ask why the price is low.
7. Pressure to pay immediately
“Pay today or lose it” is a classic tactic to stop you verifying. Protect yourself: a genuine seller will give you time to inspect and verify. Walk away from pressure.
8. Paying into personal accounts
Money sent to an agent’s or individual’s account is hard to trace or recover. Protect yourself: pay only into the company’s official account, confirm details by phone, and keep every receipt.
9. Land you've never seen
Buying from pictures or a map leads to plots in swamps, far from roads, or that don’t exist. Protect yourself: inspect in person or by live video, find the beacons and check access roads.
What to do if you think you've been scammed
- Stop paying and keep every document, receipt and message.
- Speak to a lawyer immediately about your options.
- Report to the police, and for large fraud, consider the EFCC.
- Warn others by reporting the seller to relevant associations, such as REDAN for developers.
Recovery can be slow, which is why prevention matters so much.
Signs of a trustworthy seller
- Shares documents before asking for money.
- Encourages you to use your own lawyer and to chart the survey plan.
- Has a physical office and a registered company.
- Can show estates already sold out and allocated, and buyers you can speak to.
- Publishes progress updates and responds to questions in writing.
- Is a member of a recognised industry body. GestPoint’s MD is Treasurer of REDAN’s Oyo State Chapter.
Real-world warning signs, in plain words
- “Don’t worry about charting, we have done it.” Do it yourself.
- “The documents are with the family head; you’ll see them after payment.”
- “Just pay into my account, the company account has issues.”
- “This price is only for today.”
- “You don’t need a lawyer, we use ours.”
Each of these phrases is a reason to pause and verify independently.
How developers reduce scam risk
Buying in a well-run estate removes many risks: the developer verifies the land title at estate level, handles community relations, allocates every plot physically and issues standard documents. Ask any developer to show you a sold-out estate where buyers have been allocated, and speak to those buyers. GestPoint has five fully sold and allocated estates you can ask about.
The 2-minute check
Before you pay for any land, from anyone, answer these questions with our free land safety checker. It gives you a score, the red flags to fix and the documents to ask for. For a full process, read how to verify land in Lagos.
And if you’d like a second opinion on a deal, speak with an advisor. We are happy to help, even if you are not buying from us.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if land is under government acquisition?
Chart the survey plan at the Surveyor-General's office. The charting report shows whether the land is free or under acquisition.
What is omonile?
A local term for members of land-owning families who sometimes demand extra levies from buyers. Ask about levies before buying and get agreements in writing.
Is a receipt enough to prove I bought land?
No. You need a Deed of Assignment, a survey plan in your name and, where applicable, Governor's Consent.
Can I recover money lost to a land scam?
It can be difficult and slow, often requiring the police and the courts. Prevention through verification is far better.
Useful official sources: Lagos State Lands Bureau, EFCC.
This guide is for general information and is not legal or financial advice. Prices and fees change; confirm current figures with a GestPoint advisor and your own lawyer.
