Top 5 Latest Land Scams in Nigeria and How to Stay Safe
You won’t believe what happened to Chika.
She had just returned from the UK after six years. Young, ambitious, and full of hope. You know the dream come back home, invest, and build something meaningful for the future. Her parents had been whispering, “Buy land, build a house, secure your roots.” The pressure was real.
So when her uncle’s “trusted friend” said there was affordable land going for ₦2.5M in a fast-developing area near Ajah, she didn’t think twice. It looked like a smart move. Documents? “Coming,” they said. Inspection? “Not necessary, it’s family.”
Six months later, bulldozers arrived not to build, but to clear everything. Apparently, the “land” she bought was federal government property marked for demolition.
Her dream? Gone. Her money? Gone.
Her trust in people? Completely shattered.
And you know what hurts most? She’s not alone. This is Nigeria.
Land scams here wear designer suits and speak perfect English.
Let’s talk about it.
1. The “Family Friend” Fraud
This one is so common, it should be in Nollywood scripts. Honestly, it’s one of the latest land scams in Nigeria that preys on trust, family ties, and naivety.
They come with confidence. “Na me get the land. You no need lawyer, we go do am sharp-sharp.” Sometimes they’re even relatives: uncle, cousin, or in-law. The documents? Forged. The signatures? Fake. The land? Disputed or government-acquired.
They play on your trust. And by the time you realise the truth, it’s either in court or long gone.
Tip: Never mix family with land transactions. Even if it’s your blood, verify everything. Land doesn’t care who introduced you; it only obeys the law.
2. Multiple Sales Scam
One land, five buyers. All with receipts.
Sounds crazy, right? But in places like Ikorodu, Enugu outskirts, and some areas in Abuja, this is happening every day. It’s one of the latest land scams in Nigeria. Omo-onile will collect money from five people for the same land. The first to build might survive. The rest? Chaos.
You’ll see fencing battles, police cases, and sometimes even violence or one or two sprinkles of the gods or ancestors.
Tip: Always confirm if the land is genuinely registered, and check for survey plans, land title, and any ongoing litigation. Better still, buy from registered companies like Brit Properties with verified documentation and a physical office you can walk into.
3. The “Too Good to Be True” Offer
₦800,000 for a full plot in Lekki? Stop it.
You see the ad on Instagram or hear it from a friend: “Buy land now, promo ends tomorrow. Limited plots available!” You rush. You pay. No inspection, no verification. Next thing, the seller vanishes. WhatsApp number no dey go again.
This scam thrives on urgency and desperation. It’s one of the latest scams in Nigeria designed to rush you before you have time to think clearly.
Tip: If it feels rushed, pause. Don’t let fear of missing out (FOMO) make you blind. Take your time. Inspect the land. Ask questions. Google the company. Ask for reviews. If the land truly appreciates, it’ll still be there tomorrow.
4. Forged C of O / Fake Title Documents
You’ve seen those fancy certificates, right? The clean “Certificate of Occupancy,” framed like a diploma. Many are forged. It’s one of the latest land scams in Nigeria targeting unsuspecting buyers.
Scammers print fake documents, use real government stamps, and even get lawyers to notarise forged papers. It’s scary how legit it looks until the day the Ministry of Lands tells you, “This C of O does not exist.”
Tip: Don’t just see a document, verify it. Go to the Land Registry in Alausa, in Abuja, or wherever the land is located. Cross-check the file number, survey plan, and ownership. You’re not being paranoid, you’re being wise.
5. The “Fake Estate Name” Scam
This one looks legit on the surface. The banners are everywhere: “Golden Paradise Estate Phase 4,” “New Dubai Gardens,” or something flashy like that. It’s one of the latest land scams in Nigeria. They show you a generic land, give you a brochure, and even throw a free T-shirt into the mix.
But here’s the truth: the estate doesn’t officially exist. There’s no registered name with the government. No layout. No file number. Just empty land and a made-up name used to collect millions from unsuspecting buyers.
It’s one of the latest scams in Nigeria: create a nice-sounding estate name, add visuals, and hide behind branding. By the time buyers realise there’s nothing real behind the name, the promoters have vanished.
Tip: Before you pay for any “estate,” confirm that the estate name is registered and tied to a real survey and layout plan. A good company won’t just sell a name; they’ll show you the legal backing behind it.
So How Do You Stay Safe?
Let’s be honest, land in Nigeria is emotional. It’s more than soil. It’s legacy. It’s status. It’s our way of saying, “I’m building something that will outlive me.”
But that dream must be protected.
Here’s what I’d tell you if we were gisting over suya and malt:
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Always inspect before you invest. Even if they say it’s selling fast. Go see it with your own eyes. Smell the air.
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Ask for layout plans, survey, and title documents. And verify them.
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Google the real estate company. Read what others are saying. Look beyond their Instagram.
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Don’t pay to personal accounts. If it’s not a company account, it’s not safe.
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Use your lawyer. If you don’t have one, get one. Land deals are not pure vibes.
Final Words from Me to You
You deserve to own land. Not lose sleep.
You deserve a future where your children can proudly say, “That land? It’s our family’s.”
But you also deserve not to be scammed into depression.
Nigeria is tough enough. Don’t let land be another heartache.
Take your time. Ask hard questions. Protect your money like your life depends on it because, in many ways, it does.
And when in doubt, talk to people who do this for real, not because they want your money, but because they want you to win.
Let’s stop normalising land scams. Let’s start normalising smart land ownership.
If this moved you or opened your eyes, share it with someone. Let them not learn the hard way like Chika did.
And if you want help finding verified investment lands in Nigeria that will appreciate in value, no stories, no drama, just reply to this post or reach out to us at Brit Properties.
We’re not just selling land.
We’re securing dreams.
