Nigeria Property Verification Service: How to Avoid Scams and Costly Mistakes

Buying land in Nigeria is one of the biggest financial decisions many people will ever make. But it’s also one of the riskiest, especially if you don’t verify the property properly before paying. Every year, countless buyers lose money to land scams, double allocations, or legal disputes that could have been avoided with proper due diligence.

Surprisingly, even some well-known “reputable” real estate companies are part of the problem. There have been reports of developers selling land that doesn’t exist, allocating the same plot to multiple buyers, or failing to allocate land years after full payment. In many cases, buyers are left waiting for promised estate development and infrastructure that never materialise.

This makes land verification not just a recommendation but a necessity, whether you’re buying from an individual, a family, or a known estate developer. In this guide, we’ll break down what property verification means, why it’s essential in Nigeria, and how you can get it done the right way, especially with Land.ng’s trusted Nigeria property verification service.

What Is Property Verification in Nigeria?

Property verification is the process of confirming the legal status and ownership of a piece of land or real estate. It involves checking land documents, ownership history, land registry records, and whether the land is under any government acquisition or court dispute.

It answers key questions like:

• Does the seller truly own this land?
• Are the documents genuine and properly registered?
• Is the land free from government acquisition or litigation?

In Nigeria, due to inconsistent land records, family inheritance issues, and fraud, this step is not optional – it’s essential.

Why Property Verification Matters (Especially in Nigeria)

1. To Avoid Buying from Fraudsters

Real estate fraud is a major issue in Nigeria. A 2025 report estimates that over US $4 billion is lost annually to property-related scams, with Lagos alone recording more than 1,500 land fraud cases since 2020. These include cases of fake sellers, falsified documents, and multiple sales of the same plot.

2. To Confirm Land Ownership and Documents

Documents like the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), Deed of Assignment, and Survey Plan must be verified with the appropriate state land registry. For example:

• In Lagos, check with the Lagos State Lands Bureau.
• In Abuja, verification is done through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

3. To Avoid Future Legal Disputes

Many plots of land in Nigeria are tied to family inheritance, with unclear ownership. It’s common for a family member to sell land without proper consent, leading to future disputes. Verification helps confirm that all necessary parties have agreed to the sale.

4. To Confirm the Land’s Use Status

The Land Use Act empowers the government to control land allocation and usage. Some plots are earmarked for agriculture, public use, or infrastructure projects. Others may be under acquisition. Buying such land blindly could result in demolition or seizure.

In recent times, we’ve seen multiple demolitions across major cities like Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, homes and estates pulled down for encroaching on drainage channels, government-acquired land, or for lacking proper approvals. In Abuja’s Lugbe area, estate developers and residents lost properties worth billions. In Lagos, demolitions have happened in places like Ikeja and Lekki. In Port Harcourt, waterfront communities have been cleared out by the state government. And in Akwa Ibom, several properties were recently demolished along the Airport Road, a fast-developing area that many investors have been rushing into. These cases show that without proper verification, you risk losing everything, even after paying in full and spending millions to develop the property.

What a Good Property Verification Service Includes

A reliable Nigeria property verification service should cover both individual and corporate land sellers. Here’s what to expect:

✅ Title Document Review

Verification of key documents such as Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), Deed of Assignment, Deed of Sublease, and Government Gazette. The service checks for authenticity, registration status, and transfer history.

📐 Survey Plan Verification

Confirms that the survey plan matches the physical location, coordinates,  and is registered with the appropriate Surveyor General’s office. This helps detect overlaps, encroachments, or fake coordinates.

🧾 Ownership Check

Verifies that the person or entity selling the land is the legitimate owner or has the legal authority to sell it. This is especially important in family-owned or jointly held lands.

⚖️ Encumbrance Search

Searches for any issues such as pending litigation, court injunctions, or government acquisition that may affect the land. It also flags multiple allocations or existing mortgages.

🧭 Site Inspection

A physical visit to the land is conducted to identify issues such as occupation by third parties, unclear boundaries, or a lack of access road. This helps you avoid buying “paper land.”

🏢 Company Verification (for Real Estate Developers or Agents)

If the property is offered by a real estate company or corporate entity, the verification should include:

• Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) search to confirm the company is duly registered
• Director and ownership checks to avoid fraudulent shell companies
• RC number and address verification to confirm the company’s physical presence
• Developer reputation and track record, especially in off-plan or estate projects

This is crucial when buying into estates or land sold under joint venture agreements or via marketing companies.

🏛️ Land Registry Search

Documents are cross-checked with the relevant state or federal land registry to validate their registration and ensure no restrictions or legal red flags exist.

How Land.NG Helps You Verify Land the Right Way

Land.ng is Nigeria’s #1 destination for land deals. We built our platform on a deep understanding of the challenges Nigerians face in the land market, including rampant scams, fake agents, and unverifiable plots. According to a 2025 industry analysis, real estate fraud in Nigeria costs the economy an estimated US $4 billion annually, with Lagos alone recording over 1,500 fraud petitions since 2020. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers reports that only about 3% of Nigerians hold valid land titles, making unprotected buyers especially vulnerable.

Nationwide, roughly 20% of land disputes stem from scams, fake documents, double sales, or missing ownership approvals.

That’s why, even though we insist that sellers on our platform provide detailed information for their land listings, we strongly encourage every buyer to conduct proper verification. But we also understand that navigating the verification process can be stressful and time-consuming, especially if you’re buying land for the first time. For many people, it’s also daunting to deal with Nigeria’s government offices, where the bureaucracy can be confusing, slow, and the processes for performing land searches are inconsistent from state to state. Without guidance, it’s easy to get lost, delay your purchase, or make costly mistakes.

That’s why we made land verification a core service at Land.ng – to help you avoid becoming another victim of these widespread frauds.

Using Land.ng’s verification gives you:

• ✅ Expert validation of titles, C-of-O, survey plans, and governor’s consent
• 🚶 On-ground inspections that check for encumbrances, boundary disputes, and local interference
• 📇 Registry checks to confirm legal status and detect litigation or government acquisition
• 🏢 Company and developer verification for estate projects and corporate sellers
• 📄 Clear, easy-to-read reports, so you know exactly what you’re paying for before parting with your money

In a market where buyers are losing billions to scams, our verification service isn’t just an add-on – it’s an essential peace of mind.

👉 Click here to verify a property with Land.ng

Final Thoughts

The Nigerian property market offers great opportunities, but it also comes with serious risks. A good deal can turn into a nightmare if you fail to verify the land properly using appropriate property verification lawyers and agents.

Verification helps you protect your money, avoid legal trouble, and secure land you can truly call yours. Whether you’re buying land through Land.ng or working with an independent seller or agent, our verification service gives you the confidence to proceed wisely.