Buying
Legal Fees for Property Transactions in Lagos: Full Guide
Laide Matthews · 24 June 2026 · 3 min read
Can a Foreigner Buy Land in Lagos? Rules for Non-Nigerians
Key takeaways
- Yes, but with a gate most buyers never hear about until their lawyer stops the deal: under Lagos State's Acquisition of Land by Aliens Law, a non-Nigerian cannot validly acquire an interest in land from a Nigerian citizen without the **prior written approval of the Governor** — a transaction without it is void. The common workarounds are buying through a Nigerian-incorporated company, or structuring a proper lease, both still with Governor's Consent on top.
Last updated: 8 October 2026 · Reviewed by Laide Matthews
Last reviewed: 3 October 2026
TL;DR: Yes, but with a gate most buyers never hear about until their lawyer stops the deal: under Lagos State's Acquisition of Land by Aliens Law, a non-Nigerian cannot validly acquire an interest in land from a Nigerian citizen without the prior written approval of the Governor — a transaction without it is void. The common workarounds are buying through a Nigerian-incorporated company, or structuring a proper lease, both still with Governor's Consent on top.
First, understand what anyone "owns" in Lagos
Since the Land Use Act of 1978, all land in a state is vested in the Governor, held in trust. Nobody — Nigerian or foreigner — owns soil outright. What you acquire is a right of occupancy (evidenced by a Certificate of Occupancy), typically for up to 99 years, and every assignment, sublease over the threshold, or mortgage needs the Governor's consent.
Foreigners then face a second gate on top of that first one.
The Aliens Law gate
The Acquisition of Land by Aliens Law (Lagos State) restricts how non-Nigerians acquire land from citizens:
- An alien may not acquire any interest or right in land from a Nigerian citizen unless the transaction has been previously approved in writing by the Governor.
- An instrument made without that approval is void — not imperfect, void. Your registered-looking deed is worth nothing against the law.
- Even occupying a citizen's land is unlawful for an alien unless the right to occupy came through an approved transaction.
- If a foreigner's lawfully acquired interest must later be sold under legal process, the law directs the sale first to the State Government, and if it declines, to a Nigerian citizen.
There are exemptions the Governor may declare for certain bodies, and the law targets acquisitions from citizens — buying directly from government allocation follows its own conditions. But for the ordinary expatriate buying a house in Ikoyi from a Nigerian seller: the approval is not optional paperwork; it is the legality of your purchase.
The routes that actually work
Route 1: Personal purchase with prior approval. Apply for the Governor's approval of the alien acquisition before completing the transaction, then run the normal consent, stamping and registration sequence. Slower, and your lawyer must sequence it correctly — completion before approval is the classic failure.
Route 2: Nigerian-incorporated company. Foreigners routinely acquire property through a company incorporated in Nigeria with the CAC. A Nigerian-incorporated company is treated as a Nigerian person for land purposes even with foreign shareholders, which takes the transaction out of the Aliens Law problem. The company still needs Governor's Consent for its acquisition, pays company-level compliance (annual returns, taxes), and its shares become the asset you truly control. This is the standard structure for investors buying more than a personal home.
Route 3: Long lease and other interests. Where freehold-equivalent purchase is blocked or slow, a structured long lease from a citizen or institution — properly documented and consented — can deliver use and investment value without an acquisition the law voids.
Route 4: Buy from the state or a scheme. Direct allocation from government or purchase within schemes that contemplate foreign buyers follows the scheme's own terms — still with consent and registration, but a cleaner approval path.
Who counts as a "foreigner" here
Non-Nigerian citizens and foreign companies. Nigerians in the diaspora who retain Nigerian citizenship are citizens, not aliens, for this purpose — the restrictions discussed here do not apply to them. Dual nationals should confirm their position with counsel, because how a person is treated can turn on the citizenship they transact under. Embassies and international organisations operate under separate arrangements entirely.
Practical buying checklist for non-Nigerians
- Decide the vehicle (personal with approval, or Nigerian company) before paying a deposit.
- Full title search at the Lagos Lands Registry — foreigners attract the most creative land fraud in Lagos; verify the seller owns what is being sold.
- Sequence approval/consent correctly with a Lagos property lawyer; never "complete now, regularise later."
- Budget the standard perfection package (around 3% of assessed value) plus the alien-approval process costs where applicable.
- Think about exit on day one: who may buy from you, and what approvals that sale will need.
General information on the law as it stands, not legal advice. Foreign acquisitions are exactly where a Lagos property lawyer earns the fee.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner buy a house in Lagos in their own name?
Only with the Governor's prior written approval under the Acquisition of Land by Aliens Law when buying from a Nigerian citizen. Without that approval the transaction is void. Many foreigners instead buy through a Nigerian-incorporated company.
Do foreigners own land in Nigeria or lease it?
Everyone holds a right of occupancy under the Land Use Act — commonly up to 99 years — not absolute freehold. Foreigners hold that right subject to the additional Aliens Law approvals.
Does the Aliens Law apply to Nigerians living abroad?
Nigerian citizens, including diaspora Nigerians holding Nigerian citizenship, are not "aliens" under the law. Dual citizens should confirm their position with a lawyer before transacting.
Can a foreign-owned Nigerian company buy land?
Yes. A CAC-incorporated company is treated as a Nigerian entity for land acquisition even with foreign shareholders, though it still needs Governor's Consent and must maintain company compliance.
What happens if I already bought without approval?
Get legal advice immediately. The law treats unapproved alien acquisitions from citizens as void, so the regularisation route — if available — runs through counsel and the state, not through the seller's assurances.
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About the author
Laide MatthewsLagos Real Estate Consultant
Laide Matthews is a Lagos real estate consultant with a degree in Estate Management from Obafemi Awolowo University and experience across property sales, acquisition, leasing, management and advisory since 2019. Through BuyRentLagos, he writes about the questions that shape better property decisions in Lagos.
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