If you’re Nigerian and living abroad, buying land back home can feel like one of the most exciting and most intimidating decisions you’ll make. You can’t just drive out to see the plot on a Saturday afternoon. You’re trusting photos, phone calls, and people you may never meet in person. That gap is exactly where most diaspora land purchases go wrong, and it’s exactly what this guide is here to close.
Why Ibadan, and why now
Ibadan has become one of the most searched-for property markets among Nigerians abroad, and for good reason. Land prices are still significantly lower than Lagos, the city is expanding fast toward areas like Ologuneru, Akobo, and Iwo Road, and infrastructure is catching up with that growth. For diaspora buyers thinking long-term whether that’s a retirement home, a rental investment, or land to build on in a few years, Ibadan offers room to grow that Lagos increasingly doesn’t.
Step 1: Decide what you actually want from the land
Before you look at a single listing, get clear on purpose. Are you buying to build immediately, to hold as an investment, or to secure a family property for the future? This single decision shapes everything else budget, location, and how urgently you need to verify title.
Step 2: Work with someone who verifies before they list
This is the step most horror stories skip. A reputable agent should check a property’s title and documentation – Certificate of Occupancy, Excision status, Governor’s Consent – before it ever reaches you as a buyer, not after you’ve already paid a deposit. At Johnson Realty, every Ibadan listing is checked against Oyo State documentation before it goes on our list, which is also why we can give you a straight answer when you ask “is this title clean?” instead of a vague reassurance.
Step 3: Insist on a live video tour
You should never buy land you haven’t seen, even if “seeing” it means a video call where someone walks the actual plot boundaries with you, in real time, so you can ask questions as they come up. Static photos can hide a lot: standing water, disputed boundary pillars, informal structures already encroaching on the land. A live walkthrough doesn’t.
Step 4: Handle the paperwork, remotely or with a Power of Attorney
You don’t necessarily need to fly home to complete a purchase. Many diaspora buyers complete the process through a Power of Attorney, with their representative (or their agent) handling the final steps on the ground while they review and sign documents remotely. If you’d rather be there in person, that’s always an option too – just make sure whoever you’re working with can flex around your schedule either way.
Step 5: Get your documents, and keep them safe
Once the purchase is complete, you should receive your Deed of Assignment and any supporting documents confirming the transfer. Keep both physical and digital copies, and store the digital versions somewhere your family can access them too.
A quick note on time zones
One thing that trips up diaspora buyers more than almost anything else: calls scheduled at 9am Lagos time are the middle of the night in Houston or Toronto. Before you commit to working with anyone, ask directly how they’ll schedule updates and calls around your hours, not just theirs.
Ready to see what’s currently available? Get our current Ibadan property list – land and homes, with prices, sent straight to your phone or email.
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