A compelling listing is a starting point, not proof that a property can be sold. Before you transfer a deposit, make the seller, land, documents and payment path line up. The exact searches and consents depend on the state and the interest being transferred, so use this as a sequence to discuss with an independent Nigerian property lawyer and a qualified surveyor.
1. Identify the seller and the actual property
Ask for the seller's full legal name and the capacity in which they are selling. Is it an individual, company, estate representative or attorney? A company name can be checked through the Corporate Affairs Commission public search, but registration alone does not prove that the company owns a particular plot. If an agent is acting, ask for written authority and verify it with the principal through a contact channel you found independently.
Record the address, plot number, survey plan reference and coordinates. Visit the site; compare boundaries with the survey and ask neighbours or estate management about access and occupation. A perfect-looking document for the wrong plot is still the wrong document.
2. Have the title searched, not just photographed
Request the chain of documents showing how the seller acquired the interest: for example an allocation, certificate of occupancy, deed of assignment, assent or earlier conveyance, as applicable. Under the Land Use Act, a certificate of occupancy is evidence of a right of occupancy, and many transfers of a statutory right require Governor's consent. Your lawyer should establish what right actually exists, whether it has been transferred, whether consent or registration is outstanding, and whether there are encumbrances, disputes or acquisition issues.
In Lagos, the state land portal offers property search and certified-copy services. Other states have their own procedures. Do not treat a screenshot of an online result as a substitute for a professional title search and original-document review.
3. Check survey, planning and physical condition
A surveyor can confirm the plot's location, dimensions and overlap risks. For a building, ask about planning approval and completion documents. Lagos's building-control agency describes inspections and certificates of completion; what is required elsewhere will differ. Inspect water, drainage, power, roof, structure and access at different times of day. Commission a specialist inspection if the cost or condition warrants one.
4. Put the commercial terms in writing
Agree on price, deposit, who holds it, what must happen before it becomes non-refundable, outstanding charges, included fixtures, possession date and who pays each transaction cost. Pay only into an independently verified account named in the signed documents, and keep transfer references and receipts. Avoid handing a large sum to an intermediary on a promise that papers will follow.
At closing, obtain executed documents, evidence of payment, keys, vacant possession where promised, and a written schedule for outstanding consent or registration steps. Keep digital and physical copies together. If a material check fails, pause the transaction; urgency is not a reason to skip verification.
Next step: find a local property professional to arrange viewings, while keeping your legal and survey checks independent.
Sources
Official pages this guide relies on. Rules and fees change, so check the current version before you act.
- Corporate Affairs Commission public search (icrp.cac.gov.ng)
- Land Use Act (lawsofnigeria.placng.org)
- State land portal (landonline.lagosstate.gov.ng)
- Building-control agency (lasbca.lagosstate.gov.ng)
Related reading: C of O versus deed of assignment · Checking land in Lagos.