Buying or selling real estate in Nigeria is rarely just a signature and a payment. The buyer needs to know that the seller can transfer good title. The seller needs to be paid in full and protected from later claims. Both sides have to deal with Governor's consent, stamp duty, capital gains tax and anti-money laundering checks. On commercial deals there may also be tenants, service charges, lenders and, sometimes, the shares of a property-owning company.
Our real estate lawyers handle the legal side of the transaction from the first offer to completion, for buyers and sellers in Lagos, Abuja and other states.
Who we act for
Buyers of land and homes, including first-time buyers and families; see also our property purchase service
Sellers of land, houses, flats and commercial buildings who want a clean, well-documented sale
Investors and companies acquiring offices, warehouses, retail space, hotels and development land
Nigerians abroad buying or selling property at home without travelling
Foreign companies and investors acquiring property for their operations or as an investment
Developers and real estate funds acquiring sites or selling completed units and portfolios
Acquisition advisory: acting for buyers
Deal structure. We advise whether to buy the property itself, take a long lease or acquire the company that owns it, and how each option affects consent, stamp duty, tax and liabilities.
Due diligence. We carry out property due diligence: land registry searches, charting, checks on the seller's authority to sell, approvals, tenancies, mortgages and litigation. On a share acquisition we also review the company at the Corporate Affairs Commission.
Offer and heads of terms. We record the price, payment plan, conditions and timetable before any money changes hands.
Contract of sale. We draft or negotiate the contract, with conditions, warranties from the seller, a clear position on the deposit and remedies if the seller cannot deliver.
Protecting payment. Payments are made through traceable bank transfers and, where appropriate, held in our client account or in escrow until the title documents are delivered.
Completion. We prepare the deed of assignment or lease, collect the original title documents and confirm vacant possession or the tenancies you are taking over.
Perfecting title. We obtain Governor's consent, or Ministerial consent in the FCT, pay stamp duty and register the deed in your name.
Sale advisory: acting for sellers
A well-prepared sale closes faster, at a better price, and is less likely to end in a dispute with the buyer.
Preparing the title pack: gathering the title documents, survey plan, consent and approvals, and fixing gaps before the property goes to market
Family and inherited property: confirming who can sell, obtaining the consent of the family or a grant of probate or letters of administration where the owner has died
Contract of sale: limiting your warranties, securing the deposit and setting deadlines for the buyer to pay
Payment before transfer: releasing the deed and original documents only once you have been paid in cleared funds
Mortgaged property: agreeing the redemption figure with the bank and releasing its charge at completion
Tax: advising on capital gains tax and other taxes on the sale under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025
Commercial real estate acquisitions
For offices, shopping centres, warehouses, hotels and portfolios, our real estate acquisition lawyers also:
review leases, rent rolls, service charge accounts and facility management contracts
advise on the transfer of tenancies and the rights of existing tenants
review building approvals, fire safety certificates and certificates of completion
structure the acquisition through a special purpose vehicle, including where foreign capital is involved
work with lenders on real estate finance and the security they require
negotiate sale and leaseback, forward purchase and portfolio transactions
Buying and selling property in Lagos
Land in Lagos is administered by the Lagos State Lands Bureau and recorded at the Land Registry in Alausa, Ikeja. Searches are made at the Land Registry, and charting at the Office of the Surveyor-General confirms whether the land is free from government acquisition. Land in excised villages can only be bought safely once the excision has been gazetted. Most sales need Governor's consent, and real estate developers and agents must be registered with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA).
Buying and selling property in Abuja
In the Federal Capital Territory, land is administered by the FCT Administration and title records are held by the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS). Buyers should search at AGIS, confirm the status of the Certificate of Occupancy or statutory right of occupancy, including any recertification, and obtain Ministerial consent to the transfer. Many Abuja plots are sold on the strength of an offer letter alone, and the risks of buying on that basis should be understood before paying.
Foreign buyers and investors
Foreign individuals and companies can hold interests in Nigerian land, but in most states they need the Governor's approval, and in practice many acquire property through a Nigerian company or under a long lease. We advise on the right structure, the company registration and investment approvals involved, and how the purchase price should be brought into Nigeria so the investment and sale proceeds can later be repatriated.
Anti-money laundering checks
Real estate businesses are designated non-financial businesses under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, and cash payments above ₦5 million for individuals or ₦10 million for companies are prohibited unless made through a financial institution. We advise the parties on the source of funds and structure payments so the transaction is neither delayed nor exposed.
