Distance changes the risks of a property purchase. You may rely on photographs, a relative or a developer's updates while money moves across borders. The answer is not to trust one person more; it is to separate the roles that verify title, inspect the site and authorise payment.
Build a team with separate incentives
Appoint a Nigerian property lawyer who represents you, not the seller or developer. Hire an independent surveyor for land and a qualified inspector or engineer for a completed or nearly completed building. A local agent can arrange access and market context, but should not be the only source of legal, physical and payment evidence. Put each scope and fee in writing.
A video call from a site is useful but incomplete. Request a live walkthrough with your own representative, current date, street approach, meter area, roof, drainage and neighbouring plots. Ask for a written snag list and follow-up photos.
Verify identity, title and authority before transfer
Check the legal seller, company and signatory. The CAC public search can confirm a business record, but property ownership needs a separate title search. Ask your lawyer to trace the transfer documents, survey and any required consent under the Land Use Act. In Lagos, the state land portal offers property-search and certified-copy services. Other states use different channels.
Do not send an open-ended power of attorney just because a representative says it is convenient. Have a lawyer limit its scope, duration and signatory powers to the transaction you intend.
Make payment auditable
Agree a written schedule tied to verified milestones. Confirm bank details through a voice or video call using a number obtained independently; a changed account in email or chat should stop payment until reconfirmed. Use traceable transfers and insist on receipts from the contracting party. Record the exchange rate and transfer fees in your own budget rather than relying on the listing price alone.
Define what completion looks like
The contract should specify keys, vacant possession, utilities, legal documents, registration work, snag resolution and who can sign the handover report for you. Keep digital copies in a shared folder with controlled access. Consider another inspection shortly before final payment.
FMBN announced a diaspora NHF mortgage product in 2026; ask FMBN or an accredited lender for current eligibility rather than assuming a programme fits your purchase. A remote transaction can be orderly, but only when evidence moves before money.
Sources
Official pages this guide relies on. Rules and fees change, so check the current version before you act.
- CAC public search (icrp.cac.gov.ng)
- Land Use Act (lawsofnigeria.placng.org)
- State land portal (landonline.lagosstate.gov.ng)
- Announced a diaspora NHF mortgage product in 2026 (fmbn.gov.ng)
Related reading: Buying checklist · How to verify an agent.