It is a good thing to be a landlord, at the same time, there are things to put in place before buying land in any location in Nigeria to avoid stories that touches the heart.
It is not advisable to buy land in a location you are not familiar with, except you have been properly advised by a lawyer, land advisor, or estate surveyor.
I know you are eager to know. Please hold on and read through.
1. Places Surrounded by High Tension Transmission Cable
Imagine sleeping at night and hearing a buzzing sound from high tension powerlines. How would you feel?
You will be afraid, right?
Places close to high tension powerlines have a high risk of the powerlines collapsing on your house. In fact, the government will never approve your land if it is 20 metres close to a powerline structure.
Before buying land from any agent or Omo Onile, do ensure to take your surveyor along to get it right. Different rules apply depending on the KVA of the transmission line.
2. Places Closer to a Water Body
Before buying any plot of land, put your safety into consideration. Buying land around a water area is highly dangerous, as you would not like to lose your property in the twinkle of an eye.
If you are planning to buy land in areas close to rivers or oceans, you need to know the required setback for each location.
Some areas have a 15-metre setback requirement; for oceans, a 150-metre setback may be required.
Personally, I do tell people not to invest in places close to water, because water can undo and redo. The fear of flood should be the beginning of wisdom for every home buyer.
3. Places That Are Nearer to Railway or Pipelines
Nobody wants to die untimely, but the decision you make today will also determine tomorrow’s safety.
Buying land near pipelines or railway lines in Nigeria or anywhere in the world is like signing the document of death before arrival. It is extremely dangerous and risky.
You can Google about pipeline explosions at Arepo, Ogun State, and Abule Ado, Lagos. These are dangerous events that wiped families away.
The rule is this: if you want to buy land or a building, make sure it is 25 metres away from pipelines, petroleum lines, or railway lines.
4. International Border-Line and Inter-State Border Line
There are many borderlines between states such as Lagos/Ogun, Oyo/Ogun, etc.; likewise, international boundaries such as Nigeria & Cameroon, and Nigeria & Benin Republic.
Most of these borderlines are still battling with land ownership issues, and I believe you would not like to be taxed by two authorities.
It is advisable not to buy land in these areas until you are very, very sure about where it belongs.
5. Expressways
Before buying land along expressways in Nigeria, you must make thorough investigations because those roads are important communication routes for security and commercial purposes. Hence, it won’t be easy to get such land. If you are about to get any, please make proper investigation.
Besides, it is not often easy to get construction or building permits along those major roads without a 9, 15, or 45-metre setback, depending on whether the land belongs to the State or Federal Government.
6. Government Institutions
It is not usually advisable to buy land within one kilometre of government-owned properties.
Most times, the government has already purchased this land, but some land sellers may plan to resell those lands for additional gain.
Please ensure to transact lawfully when it comes to land. Feel free to ask questions in the comment section.
