How to Buy Land in Nigeria While Living Abroad

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Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to buy land in Nigeria while living abroad with no legal trouble attached.

For all the 17 million+ Nigerians who live abroad today, there is still no place like home to them.

This is why they always want to buy land back at home so they can either build their dream houses or simply buy for investment purposes.

But while many are confident in the real estate system, many are still scared because of the fear of distance, scams, and documentation.

I have been in the real estate space for years now, and I have noticed one thing that is always happening: people are not happy when they lose their hard-earned money to silly stuff like scams.

In this article, I will show you

8 perfect steps on how to buy land in Nigeria while living abroad with no legal trouble attached.
What you should know before you even start buying land at all
Mistakes you must avoid when buying land

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Buy Land in Nigeria While Living Abroad

1. Define Your Purpose

The first thing you must do before you start even looking for land to buy is to ask yourself: Why really do I want to buy land?

If you are doing it because your friends are doing it, you don’t have a reason yet

If you are doing it because a real estate agent texted you online, you don’t have a reason yet

If you are doing it because your spouse forces you to, you still don’t have a reason yet

There are different reasons why you can buy land in Nigeria…

You can buy to sell later (investment)
You can buy so you can settle with your family
You can buy just because you want to have land in Nigeria (nationalism)

Your reasons will determine every other thing you want to do. It will define

Where you buy land
How much your land will be
The type of title you will collect on he land
The type of investment structure you need to build to gain profit

After defining your purpose, then you can go on to the next stage.

2. Research & Shortlist Locations

After zoning down to your reason for buying land, you need to start researching the kind of land that matches your reasons.

For instance, if you want to buy for settlement reasons, you should go for areas that are not so noisy or overpopulated.

On the other hand, if you want to build a shopping complex or a gym, what you should be looking for is an exposed area that people can easily locate.

Have you noticed that all iPaul gyms and most shopping complexes are always by the roadside?

For residential properties, these are some great places you can still buy land:

Omu-Ketu in Ogun
Ogijo in Ikorodu, Lagos
Mowe in Ogun State
Sagamu in Ogun
Badagry in Lagos

But if you are looking for properties for commercial and industrial locations, go for places like

Epe, Lagos
Gwarimpa, Abuja
Port Harcourt
Ota, Ogun State

After you select your location, you can then search online for the average cost of land in that location. That will help you start preparing your budget.

3. Find a Reliable Real Estate Company or Agent

After preparing your budget, you should start looking for a real estate company or agent.

This is where you need to start being very careful… There are numerous options available online, so it’s essential to be discerning when selecting the one you want to work with.

There are 4 simple secrets you should know when choosing a real estate company

Check Their CAC Registration

This is very easy to do. Just go to this website and check and search for the company. If they are not on the list, then they are very likely to be fake.

Read Google Reviews

Do this when you are dealing with a very big company. People would have spoken about them online, and you can see everything at a glance.

When you search for their company online, just click the company profile and see the rating from people. Go for the lower-rated stars and see what people have complained about.

Verify Social Media Pages

Many companies just want to take your money and run. One of the features of companies like this is that they may not build a very good social media presence.

Look for the company owner’s profile too and check the activity.

If either the company or its owner is not active online, then it is very likely that they do not have enough experience to make the best decisions for you!

They may not have the right knowledge to bargain for you

They may not have the right experience to choose the right land for you

Check for Physical Addresses

No real company will have only an online presence. They must have a physical location that you can send your lawyer to visit.

The reason you need to check for these 4 things is so that you can know who to arrest and use in court if any legal battle ever arises in the future. Many people today lose their land over not being able to properly sue the “company” they bought land from.

4. Conduct Virtual Land Inspection

You must do a live tour of the land you want to buy to know what you are really into.

You can send your lawyer or a personal surveyor to do this for you. And while they are there, request to see everything via video call to really see how the land looks.

Many people just buy land because “my mummy recommended them”.

But that’s not enough.

If you are buying many acres, ask the company for drone footage of your land. And no matter the size of the property, make sure you get the estate layout and landmarks.

You can also use Google Earth to confirm the coordinates of the land.

5. Verify Land Documents & Title

Since you are abroad, ask for the soft copies of the land document, such as the Survey Plan, Deed of Assignment, Layout Plan, and C of O.

But I will not advise that you take that hook, line, and sinker.

You should hire a real estate lawyer who will verify all the documents for you at the State Land Registry.

This will save you a lot of trouble because Nigeria still does not have a reliable way to verify these documents online fully. You will have to be making calls and calls virtually.

So, just get someone in Nigeria to finish up all the process for you physically.

6. Secure the Land Legally

Draft a Power of Attorney (PoA) to legally allow a trusted person or lawyer to act on your behalf in Nigeria. I will always suggest that you make this trusted person your lawyer or a legal firm.

Legal firms and lawyers are usually more trustworthy and more bonded by contract than a “cousin” here in Nigeria, who may sell your land and not give you any returns!

Also, notarize your land for additional legal backing. This protects you when any transaction is made on your land illegally.

7. Make Payment Safely

If you will pay for your land, ensure that you use only secure payment channels like Flutterwave, Paystack, or direct transfer to the developer’s corporate account.

Make sure that you request all signed receipts and payment acknowledgments from your lawyer here in Nigeria.

Always keep all copies of your virtual and physical receipts- they are the only evidence of your payment.

8. Fence & Secure the Land

Hire a local caretaker to monitor the land so that people won’t just come and start building on it.

Also, fence it around as soon as possible to prevent encroachment.

Ensure that you get weekly updates on how things are going with the construction on the land. Request video and picture evidence.

Red Flags You Must Avoid When Dealing with a Real Estate Company

1. Rushing You To Pay Up

When a company is rushing you to just pay money without even taking time to explain what you want to buy, that’s a big red flag. Don’t stay with them.

2. Vague Documentation

If a company is not ready to present all the documents to you, don’t buy. Some may present incomplete documents, but don’t buy.

This is why you need a lawyer who will help you verify all the documents a company will bring forward…

You don’t need to be in Nigeria to do this- just use a lawyer.

3. No Proof of Past Allocations

If you check online or ask offline for past land allocation and the company cannot present any evidence, then they are very likely to be fake.

Every company must have an allocation for which they will have social media receipts. Sometimes, they can also show you the company’s copy of the land documents.

Documents You Need When Buying Land From Diaspora

Power of Attorney (PoA)

This gives your lawyer or any other representative here in Niger the legal permission to sign documents on your behalf. It should be notarized.

Essential Documents

Some important documents you must get when buying land in Nigeria include the Deed of Assignment, the Survey Plan, the Payment Receipt, and the Estate Layout Plan.

Diaspora-Friendly Locations

Here are the most sought-after locations in Nigeria by Nigerians in the diaspora…

I have carefully selected these locations because they tend to bring returns to you even when you are not present:

City/Area	Why It’s Ideal	Common Titles
Lekki, Lagos	Fast growth, major infrastructure	Excision, C of O
Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos	Deep Sea Port, Free Trade Zone	Excision, Gazette
Epe, Lagos	Budget-friendly, rapid appreciation	Excision, C of O
Gwarimpa, Abuja	Planned estates, good road networks	C of O
Kuje, Abuja	Emerging hub, proximity to the city	C of O, Allocation
Lugbe, Abuja	Accessible, estate development	Allocation, R of O
Rumuokoro, PH	Oil & gas corridor, urban access	Registered Deed
Ada George, PH	Middle-income housing growth	Deed of Assignment
Mowe, Ogun	Affordable, near Lagos	Freehold, Survey
Ibafo, Ogun	Well-connected, low entry point	Freehold, Gazette

Real-Life Stories of Nigerians Who Successfully Bought Land in Nigeria

Ada, 28, Nurse in Birmingham

Ada, a 28-year-old nurse, started with a monthly plan of ₦350k for land in Mowe. Her uncle in Nigeria signed documents via PoA. Within 6 months, she was allocated two plots.

Today, the land has appreciated by 3x. “I thought distance was the issue,” she says, “but it was really about the right company.”

Femi, 27 – MSc Student in Canada

Femi shared how he used part of his grocery store income in Ontario to start his first investment in land back home.

He said, “I didn’t even think ₦2M could do anything in real estate until my cousin showed me an estate in Lagos offering installment payments.

I paid ₦500k upfront, then spread the rest. It’s been 10 months, and I now have my own plot. It gives me peace to know my money is growing — and not just being spent on Netflix and pizza.”

Chioma, 32 – Midwife Working in the UK

Chioma explained that after losing ₦700k to a fake land agent in 2021, she almost gave up on buying land. But she later said, “A colleague referred me to a verified developer offering land in Omu-Ketu with payment plans.

I started again with ₦200k, this time more carefully. They sent receipts, I verified the title documents, and after 7 months, I got allocated.

It feels like healing. I can finally say I own something solid in Nigeria.”

Common Fears (And How to Handle Them)

Fear	Reality & Solution
Scam/Fraud	Verify the developer with CAC & Land Registry
Omo-onile Problems	Buy only land with a title or land inside an estate
No Allocation	Get timeline in writing, follow up weekly
Hidden Fees	Request all charges up front
Lack of Involvement	Ask for photos, videos & updates monthly

What You Should Do

Are you thinking about how to buy land in Nigeria while living abroad, but you don’t know where to start?

Send us a message @possilaproperties on Instagram today. We’ll guide you into making the right choice that will meet your desires.

Note: You do not need to buy immediately when you contact us.

You just need to start with the basics. Knowledge is the first thing you must have whenever you’re starting to buy land in Nigeria

FAQs on How to Buy Land in Nigeria While Living Abroad

1. Can I buy land in Nigeria without being there physically?

Yes. A Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone to act legally on your behalf.

2. How much do I need to start?

You can start with as low as ₦200-₦300k if you’re using an installment plan.

3. What if I want to invest in Lagos but can’t afford Lekki?

Try locations like Epe or Mowe — these are growing rapidly and are more affordable.

4. How do I know if the land is legit?

Ask for the survey plan and check with the Land Registry. Avoid anything without a visible title.

5. Can I track my investment from abroad?

Yes. Many developers now use dashboards, WhatsApp updates, and share media proofs regularly.