What is property due diligence in Nigeria?

Property due diligence in Nigeria is the process of independently verifying a property before paying for it. It typically includes confirming that the seller actually owns the land, that the title document (Certificate of Occupancy, Deed of Assignment, Governor's Consent, etc.) is genuine and registered, that no encumbrances or court orders exist on the property, that the survey plan is accurate and legally filed, and that the seller has no history of fraud. GidiStay PropertyCheck™ runs all ten checks and delivers an evidence-backed clearance decision.

How do I verify a property title in Nigeria?

To verify a property title in Nigeria you need to: (1) Confirm the title document type — C of O, Deed of Assignment, Governor's Consent, Statutory Right of Occupancy, etc. (2) Search the relevant state Lands Bureau or LASRRA to confirm the title number is registered and free of encumbrances. (3) Search the CAC if the seller is a company. (4) Conduct a survey verification to confirm the plan matches the physical boundaries. (5) Obtain an independent legal opinion. GidiStay PropertyCheck™ handles all of these checks for you from ₦150,000.

How can I avoid property fraud in Nigeria?

Property fraud in Nigeria typically involves fake title documents, land already sold to multiple buyers, family land sold without all heirs' consent, properties under litigation, and survey plans that don't match the physical land. To avoid it: never pay without seeing the original title document, always verify at the Lands Bureau directly, get an independent lawyer (not the seller's lawyer), conduct a physical inspection, and run a formal background check on the seller. GidiStay PropertyCheck™ covers all of these with documented evidence.

What documents should I check before buying land in Nigeria?

Before buying land or property in Nigeria, check: (1) Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) or the root of title — verify its authenticity at the Lands Bureau. (2) Survey plan — verify with the state Surveyor General's office. (3) Deed of Assignment or Governor's Consent — confirm proper registration. (4) Land Use Charge clearance. (5) Court search to confirm no litigation or injunctions. (6) CAC search if the seller is a company. GidiStay PropertyCheck™ Lite covers the core five checks from ₦150,000; Complete covers all ten.

How long does property due diligence take in Nigeria?

Basic property verification in Nigeria (identity, document check, CAC search) typically takes 3–7 business days. A full due diligence including physical inspection, official agency searches, legal opinion, and survey verification usually takes 7–14 business days. GidiStay PropertyCheck™ Complete is designed to complete within 10–14 business days depending on agency response times and property location.

Is it safe to buy property in Lagos without due diligence?

No. Lagos has a high incidence of property fraud, multiple sales of the same land, and title disputes involving family land. Buyers who skip due diligence risk paying for property they cannot legally take possession of, losing their entire investment to fraud, or inheriting a land dispute that takes years to resolve in court. GidiStay PropertyCheck™ was created specifically to protect Lagos property buyers before any money changes hands.

What is a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in Nigeria?

A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in Nigeria is the highest form of land title issued by a state governor under the Land Use Act 1978. It grants the holder the right to occupy and use the land for up to 99 years. A genuine C of O has a unique title number that can be verified at the relevant state Lands Bureau. GidiStay PropertyCheck™ verifies the authenticity of C of O and other title types as part of the Title Document Authenticity check.

What does PropertyCheck™ cost?

GidiStay PropertyCheck™ has three tiers: Lite at ₦150,000 (seller identity, KYC, CAC search, document risk review), Standard at ₦360,000 (adds title search, survey verification, legal document review, chain of title), and Complete at ₦650,000 (adds physical site inspection, GPS/media evidence, building/planning compliance, full legal opinion and final clearance workflow). Payment is manual — transfer to GidiStay's bank account and submit your proof of payment.

GidiStay PropertyCheck™ — Property Due Diligence & Title Verification in Nigeria

GidiStay PropertyCheck™ is Nigeria's independent property due-diligence service. Before you pay a single naira for any property, GidiStay runs ten verification checks — covering seller identity, title document authenticity, survey plan, legal encumbrances, CAC company registration, physical site inspection, neighbourhood assessment, seller reputation, professional legal opinion, and compliance — and delivers a single evidence-backed clearance decision: Cleared to Proceed, Conditional Pass, or Not Cleared.

Why property buyers in Nigeria need due diligence

Nigeria has a high incidence of property fraud. Common schemes include selling land with forged title documents, selling the same property to multiple buyers, family land sold without consent of all heirs, properties under active litigation, and survey plans that don't match the physical boundaries. Buyers who skip due diligence risk losing their entire investment. PropertyCheck™ gives every buyer the same level of verification that institutional investors use — at an accessible flat fee.

What GidiStay PropertyCheck™ verifies

Seller Identity & Ownership — Confirms that the person selling the property actually has the legal right to sell it. NIN, BVN and official identity verification.
Title Document Authenticity — Searches the relevant state Lands Bureau (or LASRRA in Lagos) to confirm the title number is genuine, registered, and free of government acquisition. Covers C of O, Deed of Assignment, Governor's Consent, Statutory Right of Occupancy.
Survey Plan Verification — Confirms the survey plan number with the State Surveyor General's office and checks that the described boundaries match the physical land.
Encumbrances & Legal Charges — Official court search and Lands Bureau search for registered mortgages, court orders, pending litigation, and government charges on the property.
CAC Company Search — Where the seller is a company, confirms registration, active status, directors and ownership structure with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Physical Site Inspection — GidiStay field staff visit the property, photograph boundaries, confirm access, verify physical condition, and document the surrounding infrastructure.
Neighbourhood & Infrastructure Assessment — Documents proximity to flood zones, road access, electricity, drainage, and neighbourhood development trajectory.
Seller Reputation Check — Open-source and document-based research into the seller's history of property transactions and any adverse findings.
Legal Opinion — Independent legal review of all title documents, vendor's authority to sell, and conditions of sale by a licensed Nigerian lawyer.
Compliance & Litigation Search — Court registry search, government gazette checks, and LASRRA/EFCC public records review for red flags.

PropertyCheck™ packages and prices

PropertyCheck Lite — ₦150,000: Seller identity screening, KYC/AML check, CAC company search (if seller is a company), document risk review. Ideal for a quick first-pass before committing to further due diligence.
PropertyCheck Standard — ₦360,000: Everything in Lite, plus title search at Lands Bureau, survey plan verification, legal document review, and chain of title check. Most popular for residential land purchases.
PropertyCheck Complete — ₦650,000: Everything in Standard, plus physical site inspection, GPS and media evidence, building and planning compliance review, independent legal opinion, and the full final clearance workflow. Recommended for high-value purchases above ₦30 million.

How PropertyCheck™ works

Submit your property details — Create a case at gidistay.com/propertycheck. Provide the address, seller details, title type, and any documents you already have.
Select a package and pay — Choose Lite, Standard or Complete. Transfer to GidiStay's bank account and submit your proof of payment.
GidiStay runs all checks — Our team coordinates lawyers, surveyors, field staff and agency searches. Your case dashboard updates in real time as each check completes.
Receive your clearance decision — Cleared to Proceed, Conditional Pass, or Not Cleared — every verdict is backed by documentary evidence you can share with your lawyer.
Verification seal — A QR code links to your public PropertyCheck verification page, proving the property was independently verified by GidiStay.

Areas covered

PropertyCheck™ is available for properties in Lagos (including Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Ikeja, Ajah, Epe, Badagry, and all LGAs), Abuja (FCT), Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and other states across Nigeria. Physical site inspection is available in Lagos and FCT; remote verification available nationwide.

Start a PropertyCheck™ today

Visit https://gidistay.com/propertycheck to create your case. No payment required to start — you pay only after selecting a package. Questions? WhatsApp GidiStay at +234 911 263 0600 or email info@gidistay.com.