How My Uncle Lost ₦4.5M in an Abuja Land Scam – What You Must Check

I don’t usually share stories like this, but I hope it helps someone avoid the same fate. My uncle saved for years to buy land in Abuja. He paid ₦4.5 million in three instalments to a developer he found through a friend. Everything felt legitimate: polished renders, flexible payment plan, and a great location. After the final payment, calls went unanswered and site visits were cancelled. The office turned out to be a shared workspace and the company had no real registration. Here’s what we missed: no CAC verification, no land title checks, no REDAN membership confirmation, and a two-page agreement with no penalty clause. If you’re buying property in Nigeria, always verify company registration, request the Certificate of Occupancy or Governor’s Consent, confirm developer memberships, visit a finished project and have a lawyer review any contract.

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