Building a Future in Nigeria: Real Estate, Investment and the Dream of Homecoming
In this Ajoke Brown Media feature, Nigerian real estate professional John Adeniji shares insights on property ownership, investment opportunities, and the dream of homecoming. Discover what diaspora Nigerians and international buyers need to know about securing property, navigating Nigeria’s real estate market, and building a future back home.
For many Nigerians in the diaspora, owning property back home represents more than an investment, it is a connection to their roots, a step towards financial security, and perhaps the beginning of a long-awaited homecoming. For international buyers considering Nigeria, it can be an opportunity to discover a new place to live, work, invest, and build a future.
Yet, navigating Nigeria’s real estate market requires more than finding the right location. From verifying land titles and avoiding property fraud to understanding emerging investment destinations and planning for retirement, informed decisions are essential to making property ownership a rewarding experience.
In this Ajoke Brown Media feature, we speak with John Adeniji, a Nigerian real estate professional, about the realities and opportunities of property ownership in Nigeria. From protecting investments and identifying promising locations to helping diaspora Nigerians and international buyers navigate the path to homeownership, he shares insights for those looking to invest, relocate, or eventually return home. As interest in reconnecting with Nigeria continues to grow, understanding the property landscape is an important first step towards turning that vision into reality.
1. Tell us about your journey into real estate. What inspired you to begin helping people acquire land and property in Nigeria?
My journey started in the Lagos market, where I cut my teeth understanding how fast-moving and, honestly, how unforgiving property transactions can be if you don’t know what you’re doing. I watched too many people — Nigerians at home and abroad — lose money or lose sleep over land they thought was straightforward. That’s what pulled me in. I didn’t just want to sell property; I wanted to be the person standing between a buyer and a mistake. Today, through Prolific Point Investments, based in Ibadan, that’s still the mission. My line has always been: I don’t just sell land. I show you how land builds wealth.
2. For someone buying land or a home in Nigeria for the first time, what are the most important things they should investigate before making any payment?
The very first thing is clarity of purpose — are you buying to build immediately, to hold as an investment, or to secure a retirement base for later? That decision shapes everything else: the location, the structure of the purchase, even whether raw land or a plot inside a developed estate is the smarter move for you. For most first-time buyers, especially those buying from abroad, I actually recommend buying inside a reputable, developing estate rather than standalone land. A good estate comes with an existing verified title, defined boundaries, infrastructure, and a developer or realtor with a reputation to protect — it removes a huge chunk of the risk that trips up first-timers buying raw land on their own. That said, “trusted” isn’t a label you take on faith — it’s something you verify. Once you know your goal and you’ve identified a developer or realtor, confirm their track record: completed projects, existing clients you can actually speak to, and a title you or your lawyer can independently check at the registry. A good name reduces your risk; it doesn’t remove your responsibility to verify. Combine the two — buy through people who deserve trust, and confirm that trust yourself — and you avoid the vast majority of the problems first-time buyers run into.
3. Many Nigerians in the diaspora dream of returning home eventually, particularly for retirement. What should someone living abroad start doing now if they want to own a comfortable retirement home in Nigeria five, ten, or even twenty years from now?
Start now, not five years before you plan to move. The biggest mistake diaspora clients make is waiting until they’re ready to relocate before they start looking for property — by then, prices have moved and the good locations are gone. My advice is to begin with land in an area with visible infrastructure growth, buy early while it’s affordable, and build gradually rather than trying to do it all at once. Work with someone on the ground you trust to send you regular updates and photos, not just promises. And put your documentation in order as you go — don’t let years pass with an unregistered deed sitting in a folder somewhere.
4. Which Nigerian cities or emerging areas would you currently recommend for diaspora buyers looking for a combination of peaceful living, infrastructure, accessibility, security, and long-term property value?
Ibadan is where I put my own professional weight, and for good reason. It gives you a calmer pace of life than Lagos, land is still relatively affordable, and infrastructure is steadily catching up — road networks, new estates, proximity to Lagos without the Lagos price tag or the Lagos chaos. Beyond that, I’d point diaspora buyers toward well-planned estates in growing satellite towns around major cities rather than the city centers themselves — that’s usually where you get security, peace, and appreciation potential all at once, without paying premium prices for congestion.
5. One of the biggest fears diaspora Nigerians have when buying property back home is being scammed, buying disputed land, or discovering documentation problems later. How can they protect themselves and verify that a property is legitimate?
That fear is legitimate, and I tell my diaspora clients not to relax it just because someone speaks well or comes recommended. Verify everything independently: confirm the title at the relevant land registry, get an independent surveyor to check the coordinates against government records, and where possible, physically inspect — or have someone you trust inspect — before you commit. Never send full payment based on photos and promises alone. And don’t skip a lawyer to save money; a lawyer’s fee is nothing compared to what you lose recovering land that was sold to three different people. If a deal is pressuring you to move fast, that’s usually the moment to slow down.
6. For foreigners who are considering relocating to Nigeria — whether for work, business, retirement, marriage, or simply a different lifestyle — what should they understand about finding and acquiring residential property in the country?
Foreigners can acquire property in Nigeria, but usually through leasehold arrangements rather than outright freehold, since land ownership is governed by the Land Use Act, which vests land in the state. It’s important to understand that distinction upfront, because it shapes how a transaction should be structured. Beyond the legal framework, I’d tell any foreigner: work with a licensed professional who can explain the local process in plain terms, don’t rely solely on informal introductions, and take time to understand the neighborhood — proximity to your work, community, and support systems matters as much as the property itself.
7. What legal documents should both Nigerians in the diaspora and international buyers understand before purchasing land or property in Nigeria, and at what point should a lawyer or other independent professional become involved?
The essentials are the Certificate of Occupancy or Governor’s Consent, the Deed of Assignment, survey plans, and where relevant, a Consent Judgment or Power of Attorney establishing the seller’s authority. A lawyer should come in before you commit any money — not after you’ve paid and started having second thoughts. I always tell clients that due diligence and legal review are part of the purchase price, not an optional extra. It’s far easier and cheaper to walk away from a bad deal before payment than to fight for your money afterward.
8. If someone has a limited budget but wants to begin building a property portfolio in Nigeria, would you recommend buying land first, purchasing an existing home, buying off-plan, or investing in rental property — and why?
For a limited budget, I usually recommend starting with land in a growth corridor. It requires less capital upfront than a finished home, carries lower ongoing costs, and gives you room to develop or resell as the area appreciates. Off-plan can work too, but only with a developer whose track record you can verify — I’ve seen too many off-plan projects stall indefinitely. Rental property is a strong second stage once you have equity built up, because it demands more capital and more hands-on management than most first-time investors are ready for. Land first, patience second, that’s the honest playbook.
9. Beyond Lagos and Abuja, which locations do you believe have strong potential for property appreciation, retirement living, tourism-driven development, or rental income over the next five to ten years?
Ibadan is at the top of my list — it’s the largest city in West Africa by landmass, still undervalued relative to its size, and its absorbing overflow demand from Lagos as people look for more affordable, less congested alternatives. Beyond Ibadan, I’d watch satellite towns along major expressway corridors linking key cities — anywhere road infrastructure is actively improving tends to be where the next five to ten years of appreciation happens. The pattern is consistent: infrastructure moves first, prices follow.
10. For the Nigerian abroad or foreign reader discovering Nigeria through Ajoke Brown Media and thinking, “I could actually build a life here,” what would you tell them about turning that idea into a realistic property and relocation plan?
Start with a conversation, not a transaction. Talk to someone credible on the ground, get a real picture of what your budget can achieve, and pick a location that matches the life you actually want to live — not just the one that photographs well online. Build your documentation and due diligence habits early, and treat the property search as a process, not a single decision. That idea of “I could build a life here” becomes real the moment you stop admiring it from a distance and start putting a structured plan and the right people behind it. That’s exactly the kind of plan I help people build.
John Adeniji — Founder & Principal Consultant, Prolific Point Investments
Property • Investment • Diaspora Return • Relocation to Nigeria
