An off-plan apartment may be attractive because payment is spread across construction. It also asks you to accept construction, delivery and legal risks before you can inspect a finished home. A brochure is marketing material; your protection comes from verifying the project and writing measurable promises into the contract.
Check the land and the developer separately
Find out which company is contracting with you, which entity owns the land, and how they are connected. Search the company through the Corporate Affairs Commission, then have a lawyer examine the land title, survey and the developer's rights to build and sell units. A registered company can still lack rights over a particular parcel.
Visit completed projects and speak to owners about handover, defects and service charges. Ask who the architect, structural engineer and main contractor are, and whether there is project financing or a lender with rights that could affect buyers.
Demand an approved, buildable plan
Ask for the planning approval or permit relevant to the advertised number of floors and units. In Lagos, LASBCA explains that building-control inspections compare construction against the approved development permit and that completion certification follows final inspection. Similar agencies and processes vary by state. A rendering cannot confirm approval or safe construction.
Put milestones and changes in the contract
The agreement should identify your unit, floor, area measurement method, parking, fixtures, finishing schedule and common facilities. Link instalments to independently verifiable construction stages, not vague calendar dates. Define the target handover date, permitted extensions, notice requirements, delay remedies and whether the developer may substitute materials or alter layout.
Clarify what “handover” means: physical keys, utilities, defects list, legal transfer documents and any completion certificate are distinct events. Ask who bears cost overruns, taxes, registration and consent fees, service charges and insurance.
Plan for the difficult scenario
What happens if approvals are delayed, construction stops, your financing fails or the final unit differs materially? Ask whether deposits are refundable, whether payments are held in a protected account and what dispute process applies. Independent legal review is especially valuable before signing a standard-form agreement that limits refunds.
Visit the site during construction only through authorised channels and keep dated evidence of milestones. If the developer cannot identify the land, approvals, contract party and payment safeguards clearly, the lower launch price may not compensate for the uncertainty.
Sources
Official pages this guide relies on. Rules and fees change, so check the current version before you act.
- Corporate Affairs Commission (icrp.cac.gov.ng)
- LASBCA explains (lasbca.lagosstate.gov.ng)
Related reading: Buying checklist · Building safety checks.