Your Step-by-Step Safety Guide for Nigerians Living Overseas

Here’s Chinedu. He sent ₦42 million for a “Lekki dream home” from Canada last year. Today, that land belongs to three different families. His story isn’t rare – 47% of diaspora property deals in Lagos involve fraud. But what if you could buy safely from 7,000 miles away?  

After helping 114 Nigerians living abroad secure real estate in Lagos, we’ve cracked the code. Here’s your battle-tested blueprint: 

Why Scammers Target Diaspora Buyers 

1. Distance = Vulnerability: You can’t visit sites physically  

2. Currency Advantage: Your dollars/naira conversions attract sharks  

3. Urgency: Pressure to “secure assets back home” fast 

The cost? Average loss of $28,000 per scam (Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency)  

STEP 1: Verify Land Ownership Like a Pro (Do This First!)  

Never trust “C of O alone”. Cross-check through:  

1. Lagos State e-SEARCH Portal (Official land records – free access)  

2. Physical Site Inspection 

3. Community Leader Verification (Local chiefs confirm real ownership)  

4. Survey Plan Validation (Match with Surveyor-General’s Office copies) 

“I almost bought disputed land in Ajah. The e-SEARCH portal showed 3 pending lawsuits!” – Funke, Nurse (UK) 

STEP 2: Choose Your Safe Purchase Path  

Three scam-proof options we recommend:  

Developer red flags: No CAC registration, dodgy escrow demands, pressure tactics

STEP 3: The Money Transfer Fortress 

Four ways to pay without losing funds:  

1. Developer Escrow Accounts (Funds released ONLY after handover)  

2. Bank-Guaranteed Payments (GTB/FirstBank diaspora property services)  3. Avoid: Western Union, personal accounts, “agent’s cousin’s account” 

STEP 4: Assemble Your Verification Squad  

Hire these 3 professionals (Budget: ₦350,000-₦500,000):  

• Lagos-based Lawyer (Verify land documents)  
• Licensed Surveyor (Confirm boundaries)  
• Property Auditor (Check for encumbrances) Pro Tip: Taurean Max offers free legal packs for diaspora buyers

Pro Tip: Taurean Max offers free legal packs for diaspora buyers

✓ Governor’s Consent (Not just C of O)  

✓ Registered Survey Plan  

✓ Tax Clearance (Last 3 years)  

✓ Development Permit (For new builds) 

“After losing ₦9m to an Ikorodu ‘agent’, I used Taurean Max’s verification system. My Yaba apartment now earns ₦420k/month while I teach in Houston.” Tunde O. (Texas, USA) 

1. “Omo-Onile” Resurrected: Family members reselling ancestral land illegally (35% of disputed cases – Lagos Land Bureau)  

2. Photoshopped Documents: Always demand video verification of original deeds  

3. Fake Infrastructure Promises: Verify LSPWC road projects via @followlasg on Twitter