Introduction

 

This article is about 7 mistakes to avoid when buying land in Ikorodu.

Buying land in Lagos can be a crazy problem, especially if it is your first time.

It can be even worse if you buy land in a suburb like Ikorodu. This is because there is so little information about Ikorodu land online.

All you may see online about buying land in Ikorodu may be listings about land for sale. Because of this, many people make mistakes when buying land.

Buyers are likely to go headlong into transactions without researching properly and this is why many people get duped of their money. 

In this article, I will be showing you 

  • 7 common mistakes you must never make when buying land in Ikorodu
  • The documents you must have when buying land in Ikorodu

READ: what to know before buying land in Ikorodu

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Raw Land in Ikorodu

When you often buy land in suburbs like Ikorodu, you can make these mistakes without knowing it.

And by the time you realize these mistakes, it may just be too late for you.

Here are 7 mistakes you must avoid actively if you want to avoid real estate troubles in Ikorodu:

1. Neglecting Due Diligence

This is the number one thing I tell anybody who wants to buy land for personal or investment reasons anywhere in Nigeria.

In advanced places like the United States and Europe, you can easily go online and find all the details you need about buying land in a particular place. All you need is your Internet and your computer. 

But it is a different story in Nigeria!

Even if you have the fastest Internet network, there is so little information on land and its purchase process online.

And this is where you have to take due diligence seriously.  

Due diligence is beyond just knowing the price of the land. Here are 3 things you should do when you’re doing due diligence on land:

  • Meet the Landowner

If you have found a spot that you want to buy, make sure you connect with the landowner, if it is a private property.

But if you are buying a family land, make sure you meet the head of the family and the other decision-makers in the family. 

When you are buying a family property, it is a different dynamic. If only the family head sells to you without the approval of the decision-makers in the family, it can be a problem. 

This same rule applies when you are buying community land. If only the chief approves the sale, your land can be taken from you.

So, you need to ensure that you do not only meet the family or the community chiefs. Do well to ensure that the decision-makers in the family or the community approve your purchase.

Lastly, if you will be dealing with an agent, make sure that they are communicating your demands and needs to the owner of the property.

Also, confirm that you are communicating with the owner’s legitimate agent.

  • Go to the Land Office

Many times, you may want to trust the agent, the family head or the community chief because they have produced land documents. 

But you should not rely on that.

Instead, get a surveyor and get the coordinates of the land you want to buy. Then, take the coordinates to the Land Office of the state you are buying in.

At the Land Office, you will be told who owns the land. You will also get to know whether or not the land is owned by the government or not.

This way, you will avoid buying land that is already reserved for government use.

  • Local Research 

After you confirm the legal status of the land, you need to do your personal local research. Go to the community where you want to buy and ask questions like

  • Is there any conflict on the land?
  • What is the history of the owner?
  • Why is the land vacant when there are developing properties close to it?
  • Has there been previous development on the land?
  • Which local leader do you need to meet if there is a conflict on your land?

Simple questions like this can save you a huge deal of legal issues in future. 

 

2. Overlooking Proper Documentation

As I already mentioned above, it is not enough to see good documentation, it is necessary to verify them. 

If the property already has a Certificate Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), get your lawyer to help you review it and confirm if it is valid. The best way to do this is to reach out to the Governor’s Office.

If you are using an agent, follow up every transaction that they make on your behalf. Ensure that the Deed of Assignment is signed by the right parties.

Also, look for an independent lawyer who can verify the parties to the Deed. 

When you get these documents right, it will help you have a good defence if there is any conflict arising from the land in the future.

Read to the end of this article, I will show you 4 documents you must get when buying land in a place like Ikorodu.

 

3. Skipping Professional Surveys

Before you finally buy, make sure you get the coordinates right. Ensure you hire the services of a licensed surveyor who will help you get the correct coordinates. 

Naturally, you may want to do this by yourself but it is advisable to use a professional who has more experience.

This single step will help you avoid issues such as boundary disputes and encroachment problems.

 

4. Ignoring Zoning Regulations

For every state, there are specific local zoning regulations. If you want to buy land in Ikorodu, you need to follow regulations that apply to Lagos State in the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law.

The law specifies peculiar issues such as

  • How you can use certain lands
  • The height of your building in specific areas
  • Permits you need from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) before construction 
  • Plans for large developmental projects
  • Building codes, structural integrity, and safety measures

Where you buy land without knowing the zoning regulations there, you can have restricted use of the land.

Here are some things you need to know about land use classifications in Ikorodu:

  • Residential Zones: Residential zones in Ikorodu are mostly low-density and medium-density housing estates.
    Most communities like Igbogbo, Gberigbe, and Ijede are now expanding fast with new housing developments.
    Due to specific restrictions, you cannot build high-rises in these kinds of areas.
  • Commercial Zones: Places like Ikorodu Garage, Agric, and Ita-Elewa are dominantly commercial hubs.
    Because of this, you see mixed-use development such as shops and offices within residential areas.
  • Industrial Zones: Ikorodu is a feeder town between Ogun and Lagos so this has made it a hot target for manufacturing companies. It allows them to access both states easily with the ease of transport ease.

    Odogunyan Industrial Estate, for instance, is a major hub for manufacturing and heavy industries. Ikorodu is also home to Dangote Pasta Factory and UAC Foods Limited.
    If you want to set up a factory or warehouse in Ikorodu, you’d have to get specific permits
    .
  • Mixed-Use Zones: While some commercial zones are mixed-use, there are other dominant mixed-use locations in Ikorodu like Ebute, Owutu, and Baiyeku. In these places, you can have mixed residential and commercial developments.
  • Agricultural and Green Zones: Some parts of Ijede and Imota in Ikorodu are reserved for agriculture. Other conservation and flood-prone regions are kept by the government for large-scale construction.

5. Failing to Conduct Physical Inspections

This is a mistake most absent investors make. Don’t rely on the documents to judge the kind of land you are buying. Some lands are flood-prone. Some have a terrible history of security issues.

If you are buying for farming reasons, for instance, you need to confirm with farmers in the area about the wellness of the soil.

If you want to develop your house, you might need to check for things like

  • Access to electricity
  • Drainage system, and 
  • Flooding issues

6. Disregarding Infrastructure Development Plans

If you want to buy land in locations in Lagos, it is best to be aware of government infrastructure in the area that will increase the worth of your property. Take advantage of projects such as

  • Itokin-Epe-Ikorodu Road
  • Proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge
  • Ikorodu Ferry Terminal
  • Imota Rice Mill

These developments are indicators of growth and development in the area. As a result, the rate at which your property gains more value and appreciation.

 

7. Falling for Unrealistic Deals

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when buying land in Ikorodu is to jump at deals that are too good to believe.

When you see signs like Ikorodu land for sale, make sure you research how much the average property in the area is.

For instance, it is not possible to buy one plot of land for 1 million in places around Lagos State University of Science and Technology.

If you see that the deal is too good to be true, drop it immediately. It is a scam waiting to explode!

 

4 Documents To Consider When Buying Land in Ikorodu

As I mentioned above, you should not make the mistake of buying land in a place like Ikorodu without getting the appropriate documents. 

I often get asked this question: “What documents should I ask for when buying land?”

It is simple.

If you want to buy land from a family or a real estate agent, these are 4 vital documents you must ask for and ensure that you get.

If you can’t get them, just walk out of the deal. It will save you a truckload of trouble in future:

1. Deed of Assignment

I put this one ahead of the rest because it is the most important of all the documents.

You can have the remaining three documents and still lose your land if you don’t have your Deed of Assignment.

The deed of assignment is a document that shows you the buyer and the seller.

It clearly shows that the seller (assignor) has permanently transferred the title of the property to the buyer (assignee).

For instance, if you buy a family land in Baiyeku, you must collect a document that shows that the head of the family and a principal witness have sold the land to you after you paid for it.

If you are buying from a real estate company selling an estate, you may get other details on the Deed like the land next to you, the land beside you, and even a map of the estate attached for your reference.

 

2. Survey Plan

The Survey Plan is a document that shows details of your land such as 

  • Size
  • Boundaries, and 
  • Location (Coordinates)

By law, you are required to register this document at The Office of the Surveyor-General. 

As a result, anybody can check to see if the government or a private individual owns your land. 

If you can get this sorted, no one will want to buy your land from a scam seller. They would have confirmed from the land office that the land already belongs to someone else.

 

3. Purchase Receipt

This is simply evidence of payment for the land.

When you pay for the land, get a family receipt that features

  • The family insignia or logo
  • The size of the land bought
  • The amount paid for the land 
  • The signature of the seller 

Besides being evidence of payment, you will need a receipt to register your land at the Land Office.

 

4. Certificate of Occupancy / Governor’s Consent

The C of O shows that the state and its laws recognize the buyer as the new owner of the land.

It is usually issued by the Governor to show that he knows that you have bought land in that state.

With a C of O, the governor transfers the statutory right of ownership from his office to the buyer for as long as the law allows.

Many people don’t like getting a C of O because it is quite expensive.

But if you are buying land from someone who already has a C of O, you won’t need to get another one. You will only need the Governor’s Consent on your Deed of Assignment.

 

Final Thoughts on 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Land in Ikorodu

You can have all the money to buy land in Ikorodu but you have to be very careful not to waste it. Avoid making mistakes that will cost you your land such as 

  • Not doing due diligence
  • Skipping the proper documentation process
  • Ignoring zoning regulations
  • Not conducting inspections on the property
  • Going for unrealistic deals
  • Closing your eyes to infrastructural development

Also, ensure that you get your documents right:

  • Deed of Assignment 
  • Survey plan
  • Purchase receipt
  • Certificate of Occupancy

Once you can avoid these mistakes and have the right documents, you will secure your land without the fear of anyone taking it from you.