Key takeaways
- Buy from a registered developer you can verify, not from a relative's contact or a social media advert.
- Use a live video inspection, then send a lawyer and, if you can, a surveyor in person.
- Send money only to the company account on your contract. Never through a third party.
- Ask for dated photos and videos of progress, and keep a digital copy of every document.
Owning a home back home is one of the most common goals we hear from Nigerians abroad, and one of the most common sources of heartbreak. Money sent through the wrong hands, land that was never there, buildings that stop at the foundation. Almost all of it is avoidable with a clear process.
1. Decide what you are buying and why
A family home, a retirement home and a rental investment lead to different choices. A finished home is ready when you land; a carcass home costs less now and lets you finish over time; a plot is the cheapest way in but asks the most of you later. Our guide to carcass or finished homes compares them.
2. Choose a developer you can verify
- Check the company on the Corporate Affairs Commission public search. Apase is RC 1137357: verify us.
- Look for a real office you or someone you trust can visit. Apase's head office is at Millennium Builder's Plaza in Abuja's Central Business District.
- Prefer developers who name the title of each estate on the listing.
3. Inspect, even from far away
A live video inspection lets you walk the land in real time and ask questions. Ask the person filming to show the access road, the nearest landmarks and the beacons. Then, before you pay, send someone independent in person: ideally your lawyer, and a registered surveyor to confirm the plot. Apase offers free virtual inspections at a time that suits your time zone.
4. Appoint your own lawyer in Nigeria
Your lawyer should work for you, not the seller. They will search the title (at AGIS for Abuja land), review the contract and handle the transfer. If you need someone to sign or collect documents on your behalf, your lawyer can advise on a properly prepared power of attorney for a person you trust.
5. Pay the safe way
- Pay only into the company account named on your contract.
- Never send money to a relative, agent or staff member to “pass on”.
- Keep transfer confirmations and the company's receipt for every payment.
- Be wary of sudden changes to bank details sent by message or email. Confirm by phone with the company first.
6. Collect your documents
Ask for scanned copies as each document is issued, and agree how originals will reach you or your lawyer. Typical documents include the contract of sale, receipts, allocation letter, survey plan and deed of assignment. Confirm the exact list with your developer before you pay.
7. Track the build
If you are building, ask for dated photos and video at each stage, and for someone you trust to visit at key points such as the foundation, roofing and finishing. Apase's Diaspora Desk sends progress updates; see buying from abroad for how it works.
A checklist to keep
- Developer checked on the CAC register
- Live video inspection done
- Independent lawyer appointed
- Title searched and confirmed in writing
- Survey checked on site
- Contract signed, naming the plot and documents
- Payments made only to the company account
- Receipts and documents saved digitally
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy land in Nigeria without travelling home?
Yes. With a live video inspection, an independent lawyer in Nigeria and payments made directly to the developer's company account, you can buy safely from abroad.
Do I need a power of attorney?
Only if someone needs to sign or act for you. Your lawyer can advise and prepare one properly for a person you trust.
How do I know the money reached the developer?
Pay only into the company account named on your contract and ask for the company's official receipt for every payment.
Next step
Walk the land live on video, from anywhere in the world.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. For a specific purchase, speak to a property lawyer.
