Plain-English meanings of Nigerian property terms, checked against official sources.
189 terms Last updated 13 October 2026
Abandoned premises, under Lagos tenancy law, is a property whose tenancy has ended and which the tenant has left without handing it back. The landlord posts a notice of owner's intention on the property and asks the court for possession and an order allowing it to be opened.
An acre is an imperial unit of area used for larger land deals and farmland in Nigeria. Unlike a plot, it is a fixed measure everywhere. People often ask how many plots make an acre; the answer depends on the local plot size, and real layouts fit fewer plots because of roads and setbacks.
One acre: 4,046.86 square metres (as of October 2026).
Lagos metric plots in one acre: 6.25 plots (before roads and setbacks) (as of October 2026).
Advance rent is rent paid before the period it covers. In Nigeria rent is usually paid a year or more in advance, unlike monthly renting elsewhere. In most of Lagos the law limits how much advance rent a landlord may ask for, and both the landlord and the tenant can be fined for breaking it.
Most rent a Lagos landlord may demand in advance from a new tenant (Tenancy Law 2011): 1 year (as of October 2026).
Most rent in advance from a sitting yearly tenant (Lagos): 1 year (as of October 2026).
Most rent in advance from a sitting monthly tenant (Lagos): 6 months (as of October 2026).
Fine for demanding or paying more than the limit (Lagos), or 3 months' imprisonment: ₦100,000 (as of October 2026).
Proposed, not yet law: The Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 would cut the limit for sitting monthly tenants to 3 months' rent, keep 1 year for yearly and new tenants, raise the fine to ₦1 million, and apply statewide. Status: passed second reading on 10 July 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Housing; reported at committee stage in May 2026 and still pending in September 2026. No third reading or governor's assent reported (confirmed 13 October 2026).
An agency fee is a one-off payment to the estate agent who found you a home to rent. In Nigeria the incoming tenant usually pays it on top of the rent, and it is normally worked out as a percentage of the first year's rent. It is not refunded when you move out.
AGIS, Abuja Geographic Information Systems, is the FCT Administration agency that holds Abuja's land records, processes titles and bills, and carries out land searches. Anyone buying land or a house in Abuja should search the title at AGIS and confirm that C of O bills and ground rent are paid.
An agreement fee is a one-off charge for preparing the written tenancy agreement, usually paid by the incoming tenant. In many Nigerian lettings it is the same thing as the legal fee, though some landlords list both. Ask what each charge covers before you pay, and get a receipt for it.
Agreement or legal fee above which Lagos officials say state rules are broken (official statement, not in the 2011 Tenancy Law): 10 % of one year's rent (as of October 2026).
Sources differ:
The Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011 sets no percentage for agreement fees; whoever engages a professional for the tenancy agreement pays. (Lagos State Government (via Policy Vault Africa), 2011)
The Lagos governor's special adviser on housing said collecting more than 10% of annual rent as agreement or legal fees violates state rules. (Business Post Nigeria, 2025)
An allocation letter is a letter from a government body or developer assigning a specific plot to a person. It is an early-stage document, not a full title. Government allocations come with conditions and bills that must be paid before a C of O; a developer's allocation only confirms which plot you bought.
All rooms en suite means every bedroom has its own private bathroom and toilet. It is a standard selling point in Lagos and Abuja flats and duplexes, often paired with a guest toilet, a separate visitors' toilet near the sitting room. Check that every bathroom is fully fitted.
Area Council papers are land allocation documents issued by Abuja's Area Councils. Because all land in the FCT is treated as urban, they are not a statutory title and must be regularised with the FCT Administration through AGIS. Many have failed verification and been cancelled, so they are high risk for buyers.
Beacons are the numbered concrete pillars a surveyor plants at the corners of a plot to mark its boundaries on the ground. Each beacon number appears on the registered survey plan, so missing or moved beacons, or numbers that do not match the plan, are a warning sign for buyers.
A bill of quantities, or BOQ, is a document, usually prepared by a quantity surveyor, that lists every material and item of work in a building project with quantities and costs. Buyers of carcass or semi-finished homes and joint-venture partners use one to check the cost of completing a building.
A block of flats is a building divided into several separate flats, each with its own entrance from a shared stair or corridor. In Nigeria whole blocks are often sold as an investment for rental income, described by the number and size of flats, such as "block of 6 flats" or "4 units of 3 bedroom".
The Blue Book is the Lagos Lands Bureau's official schedule of land values by area. It is used to assess Governor's Consent, registration and other charges. A revised Blue Book took effect on 1 May 2026; applications filed before then are assessed on the previous values, and the new values are much higher in many areas.
Revised Lagos Blue Book values took effect: 1 May 2026 effective date (as of October 2026).
Boys' quarters, or BQ, is a small separate unit in the compound of a house or block of flats, usually at the back, first built for domestic staff. Today a BQ is often rented out, used as a guest room or home office, or given to a driver or housekeeper. It may be one room or a small flat.
Building approval is government permission to construct a building to an approved plan. In Lagos it is issued by the state's physical planning permit authority and in Abuja by the FCT development control department. Anyone buying off-plan or a carcass house should ask to see the approved plan and permit number before paying.
A bungalow is a house with all its rooms on one floor and no upstairs. In Nigeria bungalows are common outside central Lagos, in the South-West, the North and Abuja's satellite towns. Like duplexes, they can be detached, semi-detached or terraced, and many older ones are divided into flats for rent.
Business premises are properties let for non-residential use, such as shops, offices, plazas, event centres and churches. The Lagos Tenancy Law 2011 covers them as well as homes, and gives business tenants some extra protection, for example where a landlord blocks access or fails to repair shared parts.
Capital gains tax is tax on the profit you make when you sell or otherwise dispose of property for more than it cost you. Since 1 January 2026, under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, an individual's gains are taxed at personal income tax rates rather than a flat rate, with relief for a main home.
A carcass building is one whose structure is complete, with foundation, walls, floor slabs and usually the roof, but with little or no finishing such as plastering, tiling, doors, windows, wiring or plumbing fittings. Carcass houses sell for less than finished ones, and the buyer pays to finish them.
A caretaker is a person an owner appoints to look after a building, collect rent and deal with tenants. Under Lagos tenancy law a caretaker can count as a landlord, so notices from them may be valid. A caretaker is not the same as a registered estate agent or a facility manager.
A caution fee is a deposit a tenant pays the landlord at the start of a tenancy to cover damage to the property. It should be returned when you move out, less the genuine cost of repairing any damage you caused. It is separate from rent, agency and legal fees.
A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) is the government-issued document showing that a person or company holds a statutory right of occupancy over a piece of land. It is the best-known land title in Nigeria and states the holder, the land use, the term and the conditions of the grant.
Charting is plotting a survey plan's coordinates on the government's master map at the Surveyor-General's office. It shows whether the land is free, under government acquisition, or on a road, drainage or other reserved corridor. Buyers chart before paying, and Lagos charts every consent application.
In Nigerian listings, a close is a short, often dead-end street with little through traffic. "In a close" signals a quieter, more secure location, and many estates are built around closes. It is a selling point rather than a legal description, so check the actual street and access.
Commission is the agent's payment for closing a deal. On a rental in Nigeria it usually means the agency fee paid by the incoming tenant; on a sale it is a share of the price, usually paid by the seller. Listings often say "agency and commission" for the agent's charges on a letting.
Committed acquisition is government-acquired land already earmarked for a specific project, such as a road, school or state housing scheme. In practice it is not released to private buyers, so plots that chart as committed acquisition cannot be titled and any building on them risks demolition.
Communal land is land held by a whole community or village under customary law, usually controlled by a traditional ruler or council. As with family land, the people selling must prove their authority to sell. Communities are usually the beneficiaries when the government excises land from an acquisition.
Compensation is the payment the government must make when it revokes a right of occupancy for public purposes. Under the Land Use Act it is based mainly on buildings, crops and other improvements, plus rent paid for the land, not the land's full market value, which is why it is widely criticised.
The consent fee is the charge paid to the state for Governor's Consent to a land transaction. In Lagos it is a percentage of the property's assessed value, which since 1 May 2026 comes from the Lands Bureau's revised Blue Book, so the same percentage now produces much higher bills in many areas.
Governor's Consent charge (Lagos): 1.5 % of the assessed property value (as of October 2026).
Combined Lagos Lands Bureau charges on a transfer (consent, stamp duty, registration and capital gains lines, 2015 order): 3 % of the assessed property value (as of October 2026).
A contract of sale is the written agreement in which a buyer and seller of land or a building agree the price and terms before the property is formally transferred by deed. It binds both sides to complete the deal, but legal title passes only with the deed of assignment and its consent and registration.
A customary right of occupancy is a right to use land under customary law, or one granted by a local government for land outside urban areas under the Land Use Act. It is common in rural and peri-urban areas, and selling it normally needs the approval of the local government that granted it.
Decking is Nigerian builders' word for the reinforced concrete floor slab cast between storeys of a building, and for the stage of casting it. A duplex is "at decking" when its first-floor slab is being or has been cast. It is one of the most expensive single stages of building a storey house.
A deed of assignment is the signed legal document by which a seller transfers their interest in land or a building to a buyer. It is the main document a buyer receives in a Nigerian property sale, and it becomes fully effective once it has Governor's Consent, is stamped and is registered.
A deed of conveyance is a deed that transfers land from a seller to a buyer. In Nigeria it was the usual document for outright freehold sales before the Land Use Act of 1978, and it still appears in old Lagos titles and in some states and estates today.
A deed of gift is a deed by which an owner gives land or a building to someone, often a child, spouse or relative, without asking for payment. In Nigeria it transfers the giver's right of occupancy, so where the land is under a statutory right it follows the same consent and registration steps as a sale.
A deed of lease gives someone the right to occupy land or a building for a fixed number of years in return for rent or a lump sum. Long leases are made by deed and registered, and a lease of land held under a statutory right of occupancy needs the governor's consent.
A deed of mortgage is the document that uses land or a building as security for a loan. A legal mortgage over land held under a statutory right of occupancy needs the governor's consent and registration, which is why lenders insist on a perfected title before they will lend.
A deed of sublease is a deed by which someone who holds land on a lease or right of occupancy, often an estate developer, grants a shorter lease out of their own interest to a buyer or tenant. It is common in estates, and the Land Use Act lists subleases among dealings that need the governor's consent.
A deemed grant is a right of occupancy that the Land Use Act treats as already granted to people who held developed land in urban areas when the Act began in 1978. It explains why some old family houses, especially in Lagos, have valid title even though no modern C of O was ever issued.
A detached bungalow is a single-storey house that stands on its own plot and shares no walls with any neighbour. It is the most common family house in many Nigerian towns and suburbs, and is often built first with a view to adding an upper floor later.
A detached duplex is a two-storey family house that stands on its own plot and shares no walls with any neighbour. It is the most listed type of house for sale on Property Centre and the usual choice for buyers who want space, privacy and room for a boys' quarters.
A development levy is a charge paid to an estate developer or a government body, usually at allocation or before building, to fund roads, drainage and other infrastructure. It is separate from the land price, and disputes are common when it is set years after purchase, so agree it in writing before you buy.
A documentation fee is a charge some developers and sellers add for preparing the buyer's purchase documents, such as the deed of assignment, allocation papers and survey. It is separate from the price and from government charges, so ask what it covers and get it written into the contract.
A DPC, or damp-proof course, is a waterproof layer built into the walls of a building just above ground level to stop moisture rising from the ground. In Nigeria "DPC level" also names the building stage when the foundation and ground floor are complete, so a plot "with building at DPC" has its base built.
Dry land is naturally firm ground that can be built on without first raising or reclaiming it. In Lagos adverts it is used to set a plot apart from swampy or waterlogged land, which needs sand filling and sometimes deeper foundations. Dry land usually costs more than swamp in the same area.
Due diligence is the set of checks a buyer makes before paying for land or a house: searching the title at the registry, charting the survey, confirming the seller's authority, visiting the site and checking for disputes, unpaid bills and planning problems. It is the main protection against fraud in Nigerian property deals.
In Nigeria, a duplex is a house on two or more floors for one household, usually with living rooms downstairs and bedrooms upstairs. This differs from the US, where a duplex is one building split into two separate homes. Nigerian duplexes are detached, semi-detached or terraced.
An electronic C of O is a Certificate of Occupancy produced and recorded digitally, with security features meant to make forgery harder. Lagos introduced electronic C of Os to cut fraud and now takes title applications online through its e-GIS portal, and the federal government runs a digital portal for C of Os on federal land.
An equity contribution is the part of a property's price you pay yourself before a mortgage, NHF loan or housing scheme covers the rest. Lenders and schemes set their own minimum share, which depends on the loan size and product, so confirm the current requirement with the lender before you apply.
An estate agent is a person or firm that markets properties and connects landlords or sellers with tenants or buyers in return for a fee. In Nigeria the word covers registered firms and informal street agents alike. In Lagos, anyone doing real estate business must register with LASRERA and hold a yearly permit.
Estate fees are charges set by an estate developer or residents' association for building or maintaining shared roads, gates, security and other infrastructure. They are separate from the purchase price and from any service charge in a block of flats, so ask for a written list of all estate charges before buying.
An estate surveyor and valuer is a professional registered with ESVARBON, trained to value property and to manage, let and sell real estate. Most are members of NIESV and use the title "Esv." They are different from land surveyors, who measure land and prepare survey plans and are registered separately.
ESVARBON, the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, is the federal board that registers and regulates estate surveyors and valuers under the Estate Surveyors and Valuers (Registration, etc.) Act. You can check whether someone calling themselves an estate surveyor is on its register before you engage them.
An event centre is a venue rented for weddings, parties, conferences and church programmes, usually by the day. Event centres range from small halls to large multipurpose venues with parking and kitchens. Property Centre lists them as event centres and venues, with halls and conference rooms as sub-types.
Excision is the government formally releasing part of its acquired land back to the original community or family, so that it can be sold and titled privately. The released area is published in the state gazette, and buyers usually buy from the community and then perfect their own title.
The exempt areas are the four parts of Lagos where the 2011 Tenancy Law does not apply: Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria Island. Its advance-rent limits and other rules do not bind lettings there. Lekki and Ajah are not exempt, despite what is often said. The 2025 Bill would end the exemption.
Proposed, not yet law: The Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 would apply across the whole state, removing the exemption for Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria Island. Status: passed second reading on 10 July 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Housing; reported at committee stage in May 2026 and still pending in September 2026. No third reading or governor's assent reported (confirmed 13 October 2026).
Face-me-I-face-you is a building of single rooms on both sides of a central corridor, with doors facing each other, where tenants share the toilet, bathroom and kitchen. It is the most common low-cost rental housing in Lagos and other cities. It differs from a self contain, which has private facilities.
A facility manager is a company or person paid to run a building or estate's shared services, such as security, power, water and cleaning, and to collect the service charge. They are common in Lekki, Ikoyi and Abuja estates. Tenants in Lagos can ask for a regular account of service-charge spending.
Family land is land owned collectively by an extended family under customary law, usually managed by the family head. Under long-standing case law, a sale needs the family head together with the principal members; a sale without them can be set aside, so buyers should get all the right signatures.
FCT recertification is the requirement, announced by the FCT Administration in November 2023, that holders of Abuja C of Os recertify their titles and add identity details: the NIN for individuals and the BVN for companies. It is separate from the fee for a new C of O, which does not apply to recertification.
FCT recertification fee, individuals (announced November 2023): 50,000 naira (as of October 2026).
FCT recertification fee, companies (announced November 2023): 100,000 naira (as of October 2026).
Federal land in Lagos is land originally granted by the Federal Government, for example in parts of Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Festac and Apapa. Lagos requires owners to regularise with the state and obtain state consent as well, which owners call double consent. The legal basis is disputed and the merits have not been decided.
A finder's fee is a payment an informal middleman asks for after pointing a house-hunter to a property, on top of the main agency fee. It often appears when several agents share one listing. Ask who the letting agent is, and pay only the charges written into your agreement with a receipt.
A fixed-term tenancy is let for a set period and ends automatically on its end date. In Lagos the landlord does not need to serve a notice to quit when the term runs out; they serve the notice of owner's intention to recover possession and can then go to court if the tenant stays.
A flat is a self-contained home on one floor within a larger building. Nigeria follows British usage, where the US would say apartment, and rentals are usually described by bedrooms, as in "3 bedroom flat". Property Centre lists them as flats and apartments, including mini flats and self contains.
FMBN, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, is the federal mortgage bank that manages the National Housing Fund. It collects workers' NHF contributions and funds NHF mortgages, which accredited primary mortgage banks lend on to contributors at a low fixed rate. It also finances some housing estates.
Foreigners and land refers to the rules that limit how non-Nigerians can hold land. In Lagos, a foreigner, or a company controlled by foreigners, needs the governor's approval to take an interest in land under the state's aliens law. Many foreign investors hold land through a Nigerian-registered company instead.
A form fee is a charge some agents ask for to register a house-hunter or hand over an application form before showing properties. It is not part of rent, agency or legal fees, and no tenancy law we checked provides for it. Ask what it covers and whether it is refunded before you pay.
A foundation fee is an informal payment demanded by local land-owning families, often called omo onile, before a buyer can dig a foundation, roof or build, on top of the purchase price. In Lagos, demanding such fees with force or threats is a criminal offence under the Properties Protection Law.
Foundation level is the building stage when the foundation, the footings and base walls below ground, has been dug and cast but nothing has been built above ground yet. Sellers advertise land "with building at foundation" to show a project has started. The next stage is DPC level.
Free from government acquisition describes a plot whose coordinates, when charted at the Surveyor-General's office, do not fall within any government acquisition or reserved corridor. It is a common sales claim in land adverts and should be backed by a charting report, not just the seller's word.
Freehold means outright ownership of land with no time limit. In Nigeria the Land Use Act of 1978 replaced freehold for most land with rights of occupancy, and earlier freeholds became deemed rights. So when an advert says freehold, it usually means a long or well-documented right of occupancy.
A gated estate is a planned residential area with controlled entry, shared roads and services, and usually an estate association that collects dues. In Nigeria "estate" means a planned development, not land left by someone who has died. Estate rules and service charges apply on top of rent or price.
A gazette is the official government publication that records laws, acquisitions, excisions and other formal land decisions. In Nigerian property talk, gazetted land usually means land listed in an excision gazette, which shows the government released it to a community. A gazette is evidence of release, not an individual title.
German floor is Nigerian builders' term for the concrete slab cast at ground level over filled and compacted earth inside the foundation walls, before the walls go up. Engineers call it oversite concrete or the ground-floor slab. It is completed at the DPC stage and forms the base of the ground floor.
Global acquisition is a broad government acquisition of a large area that has not yet been assigned to a specific project. Parts of it may later be released to communities by excision, or to occupiers by ratification, but only at the government's discretion, so buying inside one is risky.
A Global C of O is a single Certificate of Occupancy covering a whole estate or large parcel, held by the developer or original owner before the land is divided into plots. Buyers in such estates usually receive a deed of sublease or assignment from the developer rather than their own C of O, and that deed should be registered.
Government acquisition is land that the state or federal government has formally taken over for public use, such as roads, schools or housing schemes. Private buyers generally cannot get good title to acquired land unless the government releases it, so checking for acquisition is a key step before buying.
Governor's Consent is the state governor's written approval of a sale, mortgage, lease or other transfer of land that already has a statutory right of occupancy. A buyer of C of O land applies for it after signing the deed of assignment, so that the transfer is recognised and can be registered.
GRA, short for Government Reserved Area, is a planned, low-density residential area first set aside for colonial and senior government officials. GRAs, such as Ikeja GRA in Lagos and the GRAs of Port Harcourt, Enugu and Benin, are now among the premium neighbourhoods of many Nigerian cities.
Ground rent is the yearly rent that the holder of a statutory right of occupancy pays to the state for the land. It is set in the grant and can be revised by the governor. In Abuja it is billed separately and non-payment has led to revocations; in Lagos it is folded into the Land Use Charge.
A half plot is half of the local standard plot of land. In Lagos it usually means half of the metric Lagos plot, which is common in built-up areas where full plots are scarce. Because the plot itself varies by state and estate, always check the area in square metres on the survey plan.
Half plot, Lagos metric convention (18 m × 18 m), not an official standard: 324 square metres (as of October 2026).
A hectare is a metric unit of area used for large land parcels, farmland and estates. The Land Use Act also uses hectares for some of its limits. A hectare is bigger than an acre, and the number of plots it holds depends on the local plot size and on how much land roads take up.
One hectare: 10,000 square metres (as of October 2026).
One hectare in acres: 2.4711 acres (as of October 2026).
Lagos metric plots in one hectare: 15.43 plots (before roads and setbacks) (as of October 2026).
Holding over means staying in a property after your tenancy has ended. A tenant who holds over may owe the landlord mesne profits for the extra time. The landlord must still go to court to get the property back and cannot evict by force, change the locks or cut off utilities.
A hostel is accommodation for students, usually near a university, let as single or shared rooms. Off-campus hostels are often private buildings of rooms or self contains. In the South-East, students commonly call them lodges. Property Centre lists hostels as a commercial property sub-type.
An inspection fee is a charge some informal agents ask for just to show a house-hunter a property. No Nigerian tenancy law we checked provides for it, and it is not part of the agency fee. Treat a demand for payment before viewing as a warning sign and ask for a receipt if you pay.
An instalment payment plan lets a buyer pay a developer or seller in stages over months or years, which is common for estate land and off-plan homes. The total price is usually higher than paying outright. Check what happens if you miss a payment and when you receive allocation and documents.
Interlocking is paving made of concrete blocks shaped to lock together, used for compounds, driveways and estate roads. "Compound interlocked" is a common selling point in Nigerian listings. Raising a compound with new paving can bridge a house's damp-proof course, so check levels against the walls.
In Nigerian property, a joint venture (JV) is a deal in which a landowner provides land and a developer builds on it, and the two share the finished units or the sale proceeds. It lets owners of old houses or idle land redevelop without paying for construction themselves.
Lagos e-GIS is the state's electronic land information system and online portal for land searches, title applications, consents and fee payments. A Lagos Geographic Information Service law was signed in October 2025, and regional e-GIS centres are being opened to bring services closer to landowners.
Lagos HOMS, the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, is the state programme that sells government-built homes to qualifying Lagos residents through mortgages and a rent-to-own option. Applicants must meet residency, age and tax conditions, and homes are allocated through the scheme rather than bought on the open market.
The Lagos Land Registry, at Alausa in Ikeja, records title documents and deeds for land in Lagos State under the Lands Registration Law 2015. Searches, certified true copies and registration of consented deeds are done here, and its records are being moved onto the state's e-GIS system.
The Lagos State Properties Protection Law 2016 makes forceful takeover of land, threats, illegal fee demands and fraudulent land sales criminal offences in Lagos, and set up a special task force to enforce it. It is the main legal tool against omo onile and land grabbers in the state.
The Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 is a proposed law to replace the 2011 Tenancy Law. It is still before the Lagos State House of Assembly and is not law. Its draft would lower the cap on agent commission, tighten advance-rent limits and apply across the whole state.
Proposed, not yet law: Draft provisions include: agents must be registered with LASRERA; agent commission capped at 5% of one year's rent; sitting monthly tenants limited to 3 months' advance rent and yearly and new tenants to 1 year; caution deposits refundable less documented repairs; every charge stated in the agreement; fines of up to ₦1 million and jail terms; statewide coverage. Provisions may change in committee. Status: passed second reading on 10 July 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Housing; reported at committee stage in May 2026 and still pending in September 2026. No third reading or governor's assent reported (confirmed 13 October 2026).
The Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011 is the law in force that governs most residential and business tenancies in Lagos and how landlords recover premises. It covers advance rent, receipts, deposits, notice periods and self-help eviction. It does not apply in Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria Island.
Most rent a Lagos landlord may demand in advance from a new tenant: 1 year (as of October 2026).
Agency fee range stated by LASRERA (regulator position, not in the 2011 Tenancy Law): 0–10 % of one year's rent (as of October 2026).
Sources differ:
The 2011 Tenancy Law contains no percentage cap on agency or legal fees. (Lagos State Government (via Policy Vault Africa), 2011)
The head of the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority says agency fees must stay within a range of zero to 10% of the yearly rent. (Ripples Nigeria, July 2025)
Proposed, not yet law: The Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 would replace the 2011 Law. Its draft caps agent commission at 5% of one year's rent, limits sitting monthly tenants to 3 months' advance rent, makes caution deposits refundable less documented repairs, raises fines to up to ₦1 million, and applies statewide, removing the Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria Island exemption. Status: passed second reading on 10 July 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Housing; reported at committee stage in May 2026 and still pending in September 2026. No third reading or governor's assent reported (confirmed 13 October 2026).
Land banking is buying land in an area expected to grow, then holding it unbuilt for years in the hope that its value rises before you sell or develop it. In Nigeria it is heavily marketed along new road corridors, and it works only if the title is sound and the area really develops.
A landlord is the person entitled to a property who lets it to a tenant. Lagos law defines the word widely, so it can include the owner's agent, lawyer, attorney or caretaker, and anyone collecting rent who claims a right to it. Always confirm who the real owner is before paying.
A land search is a check of the official land registry records to confirm who holds title to a plot and whether it carries mortgages, disputes or government interests. Buyers usually ask a lawyer to search at the state land registry, or at AGIS in Abuja, before paying for land or a house.
Land swap is an FCT Administration scheme in which private developers build roads and services in undeveloped Abuja districts and are paid with land instead of cash. Developers also pay compensation to affected communities. Buyers should check that infrastructure has actually been delivered before buying plots in land swap districts.
The Land Use Act is the federal law that places all land in each Nigerian state under the governor, who holds it in trust for the people. Since it took effect in 1978, people hold rights of occupancy instead of outright ownership, and most land deals need the state's approval.
The Land Use Charge is Lagos State's yearly property tax. It replaced the separate ground rent, tenement rate and neighbourhood improvement charge with one bill, worked out from the assessed value of the land and buildings and a rate that depends on how the property is used.
LASRERA, the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, registers and regulates estate agents, realtors and developers in Lagos and takes complaints about them. Under its 2022 law, anyone doing real estate business in Lagos must register and hold a permit renewed every year. Check an agent's registration before paying.
Agency fee range stated by LASRERA (regulator position, not in the 2011 Tenancy Law): 0–10 % of one year's rent (as of October 2026).
Leasehold means holding land for a fixed period rather than forever. In Nigeria every statutory right of occupancy is effectively leasehold, because a C of O is granted for a set term, and renewal is at the state's discretion. Buyers take over whatever remains of the seller's term.
Usual maximum term of a statutory right of occupancy: 99 years (as of October 2026).
Sources differ:
The Land Use Act says statutory rights are granted for a definite term and sets no number of years. (Federal Republic of Nigeria (via PLAC Laws of Nigeria), 1978)
Law-firm guides describe the term as capped at, or usually, ninety-nine years. (Mondaq, undated)
A legal fee, in Nigerian renting, is the one-off charge for the lawyer who prepares or checks the tenancy agreement. The incoming tenant usually pays it, often to the landlord's lawyer, and it is commonly quoted as a percentage of the yearly rent. It is separate from rent and is not refunded.
The legal fee on a purchase is what a buyer pays their lawyer to check the title, run searches, draft or review the contract and deed, and handle consent and registration. Buyers should hire their own lawyer rather than rely only on the seller's or developer's. The fee is agreed with the lawyer.
A licensee is someone allowed to live in a property by permission only, such as a relative, a caretaker or an employee in staff housing, without a tenancy. In Lagos the 2011 Tenancy Law still gives a licensee whose permission has ended a notice of owner's intention before the owner goes to court.
A lintel is a beam, usually of reinforced concrete in Nigeria, placed over a door or window opening to carry the wall above it. "Lintel level" is the building stage when the walls have risen to the top of the openings and the lintels are cast, ready for the walls to be finished and the roof or next floor.
A maisonette is a home on two floors with its own internal staircase, inside a larger building or block. In Nigerian listings the word is used loosely, sometimes for upper-floor duplex-style flats and sometimes for terraced houses, so always ask for the floor plan to see what is on offer.
Mesne profit is money a landlord can claim from someone who stays in a property after their tenancy has ended, to compensate for the time they kept it. It is not rent, because the tenancy is over. A court decides the amount, usually by reference to the property's rental value.
A mini estate is a small gated cluster of houses, often terraced or semi-detached duplexes, sharing one gate, security and services. Mini estates are common in Lekki, Ajah and Abuja, where developers build on one or a few plots. Residents usually pay a service charge for shared costs.
A mini flat is a one-bedroom home with a separate sitting room, plus its own kitchen, toilet and bathroom. It is often called a "room and parlour" or "room and parlour self contain". It is the step up from a self contain, which has no separate sitting room, and is common in Lagos and Abuja.
Monthly rent means paying rent each month instead of a year or more upfront. It is lawful in Lagos but still rare outside serviced flats, rent-loan products and some schemes. A 2022 Senate bill to replace yearly advance rent with monthly payments in Abuja did not become law, as far as we found.
A monthly tenancy is one where rent is paid, or demanded, month by month and the tenancy rolls on each month until someone gives notice. In Lagos, the way rent is paid is presumed to show the type of tenancy, and the 2011 Tenancy Law sets a default notice period for monthly tenants.
Default notice to quit, monthly tenancy (Lagos): 1 month (as of October 2026).
Most rent in advance from a sitting monthly tenant (Lagos): 6 months (as of October 2026).
A mortgage is a long-term loan to buy, build or improve a home, secured on the property itself. If the borrower stops repaying, the lender can sell the property to recover the debt. In Nigeria mortgages are offered by primary mortgage banks, some commercial banks and government schemes such as the National Housing Fund.
The National Housing Fund (NHF) is a federal scheme, managed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, into which public-sector workers and self-employed people must pay a small share of their monthly income, and private-sector workers may choose to. Contributors can then borrow from the fund at a low fixed rate to buy, build or improve a home.
Newly built describes a property that has just been completed and has not yet been lived in. It is one of the most common words in Nigerian listings and often justifies a higher rent or price. "Newly renovated" is different: it means an older building that has been refurbished.
A new tenant is someone taking a property for the first time, as opposed to a sitting tenant who is renewing. In most of Lagos the 2011 Tenancy Law limits how much rent a new tenant may be asked for, or may offer, in advance. The limit is in the figures panel.
Most rent a Lagos landlord may demand in advance from a new tenant (Tenancy Law 2011): 1 year (as of October 2026).
NIESV, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, is the professional association for estate surveyors and valuers in Nigeria. Members use the title "Esv." and must also be registered with ESVARBON to practise. It sets professional standards for its members and has branches across the states.
Buying off-plan means paying a developer for a home before it is built or finished, based on drawings and a promised delivery date. It is usually cheaper than buying a completed home and is often paid in instalments, but the buyer carries the risk of delay, changes or non-delivery.
Ogun State's anti-land grabbing law, signed in 2016, prohibits the forcible occupation of land and related violence and extortion by land grabbers. It is Ogun's counterpart to the Lagos Properties Protection Law, and buyers in Ogun border towns should know it exists, though penalties should be checked in the enacted text.
Omo onile is Yoruba for children of the land. In Nigerian property talk it means members of local land-owning families who demand money from buyers and builders, resell plots or use force on land they claim. Lagos and Ogun have passed laws that make these practices criminal offences.
A one-bedroom flat is a flat with one bedroom, a separate sitting room, a kitchen and a bathroom. In Lagos listings it overlaps with a mini flat; "one-bedroom flat" or "apartment" is often used for larger or newer units, sometimes with a guest toilet. Compare floor plans rather than labels.
Outright payment means paying the full price of land or a home at once, instead of in instalments or with a mortgage. Developers often offer a lower price for outright payment. Before paying in full, make sure the title has been checked and the contract says when you receive your documents.
Overriding public interest is the legal ground on which a governor may revoke a right of occupancy under the Land Use Act, for example when land is needed for roads, public buildings, mining or pipelines, or when the holder breaks the grant's conditions. It is the basis for most land revocations.
A penthouse is a flat on the top floor of a building, usually larger and better finished than the flats below, often with a terrace, roof garden or views. In Lagos and Abuja listings the word is also used as a marketing label for any top-floor flat, so check the size and features.
A periodic tenancy renews itself automatically at the end of each period, whether a week, month, quarter or year, until the landlord or the tenant ends it with proper notice. It is the idea behind the default notice periods in the Lagos Tenancy Law. Rent-payment patterns usually show which period applies.
Physical allocation is when an estate developer or government body shows a buyer their specific plot on the ground and marks it, usually with beacons. Buyers often receive a paper allocation first and physical allocation later, and some developers charge a development levy at that stage.
A plaza, in Nigerian property, is a commercial building of shops or offices let to several businesses, often on a busy road. Larger ones are called shopping complexes or malls. Property Centre lists them under commercial property as plaza, complex or mall, for rent and for sale.
A plot of land is the standard unit Nigerians use to buy and sell land. It is a custom, not a legal measure, so its size changes by state and even by estate. A Lagos plot is larger than the plot used in many other states, so always check the square metres.
A POP ceiling is a decorative ceiling made of plaster of Paris shaped over a frame, often with built-in lights. It is a standard feature of finished Nigerian homes, as in "self contain with POP". Stains or cracks in a POP ceiling can be a sign of a roof leak above.
A power of attorney is a document in which a property owner authorises another person, the attorney, to act for them, for example to manage, let or sell land. An irrevocable power of attorney cannot be withdrawn by the owner, but on its own it is not proof that the land has been sold.
A primary mortgage bank is a licensed bank that specialises in home loans. Accredited primary mortgage banks handle National Housing Fund applications: FMBN lends them the money and they on-lend it to contributors, check the property and title, and collect repayments. Some also offer their own commercial mortgages.
A provisional survey is a survey drawing that shows a plot's boundaries and size but has not yet been lodged with the State Surveyor-General. It can help a buyer see what they are buying, but it is not a registered plan and cannot support a title application on its own.
A purchase receipt is a receipt showing that a buyer paid for land. It proves payment, not ownership. Courts have held that payment plus possession can give the buyer an equitable interest, but a receipt alone is not a title, and a seller who had no title cannot pass one.
A quarterly or half-yearly tenancy is one where rent is paid every quarter or every half year and the tenancy rolls on until someone gives notice. In Lagos the 2011 Tenancy Law sets the same default notice period for both. In Abuja the Recovery of Premises Act is less clear on half-yearly tenancies, so take advice there.
Default notice to quit, quarterly tenancy (Lagos): 3 months (as of October 2026).
Default notice to quit, half-yearly tenancy (Lagos): 3 months (as of October 2026).
A quit notice, or notice to quit, is the formal written notice that ends a periodic tenancy and tells the tenant the date by which to leave. In Nigeria it is the first step before a landlord can go to court to recover a property. It is not an eviction: only a court can order that.
Ratification, in Lagos land practice, is the process by which the state grants legal title to people who bought or built on land inside a government acquisition, usually on payment of fees. It is discretionary, not a right, and is different from excision, which releases land to a community.
In Nigeria, realtor is a loose word for anyone who sells or lets property, especially commission-based marketers for estate developers. It has no legal meaning here and does not show a licence. In Lagos realtors must still register with LASRERA. For valuations, use a registered estate surveyor and valuer.
Recovery of premises is the court process a landlord must follow to get a property back from a tenant or occupier. It starts with the right notices, usually a notice to quit and then a notice of owner's intention, followed by a claim in court. The court decides whether to order possession and when.
The Recovery of Premises Act is the law that governs ending tenancies and recovering property from tenants in Abuja (FCT). It sets default notice periods when the tenancy agreement is silent and requires a further notice of the owner's intention to recover possession before a landlord can go to court.
Default notice to quit, yearly tenancy (Abuja): 6 months (as of October 2026).
Notice of owner's intention to recover possession (Abuja): 7 days (as of October 2026).
A registered survey is a survey plan that has been lodged and recorded at the State Surveyor-General's office and given a plan number. It carries the surveyor's seal, beacon numbers and coordinates, and it is the version required for C of O and consent applications.
The registration fee is the charge for recording a deed in the state land registry, so that the buyer's interest is official and searchable. In Lagos it is one of the Lands Bureau charges calculated on the assessed value. Unregistered deeds are hard to rely on as proof of title.
Registration charge (Lagos): 0.5 % of the assessed property value (as of October 2026).
Regularisation is bringing an informal or irregular land holding or building into line with the law, for example getting a C of O for land bought without one, or approval for a building put up without a permit. In Abuja it also means converting Area Council papers into statutory titles.
A REIT, or real estate investment trust, is a fund listed on the stock exchange that owns income-producing property and pays investors from the rent. On the Nigerian Exchange it lets small investors get exposure to property without buying a building, with the usual risks of a listed investment.
A rent loan is finance where a company pays your yearly rent to the landlord and you repay it monthly with interest. It helps tenants avoid finding a large sum at once, but the total cost can be much higher than paying upfront. Compare the full repayment with the rent before you sign.
A rent receipt is the written proof a landlord gives when a tenant pays rent. In Lagos the 2011 Tenancy Law makes it compulsory and lists what it must show, including the date, the names of both parties, the property, the amount and the period covered. Keep every receipt: it is key evidence in any dispute.
Sources differ:
Research reading of the gazette text gives the fine for failing to issue a rent receipt as ₦100,000. (Lagos State Government (via Policy Vault Africa), 2011)
A legal explainer gives the fine as ₦10,000. (LawPadi, Undated, accessed 2026)
Rent-to-own is a scheme where you move into a home after a deposit and your regular payments count towards buying it over several years. Lagos HOMS runs a state rent-to-own scheme, and some private developers offer their own versions. Terms vary widely, so read the contract with a lawyer.
Revocation is the government cancelling a right of occupancy under the Land Use Act, either because it needs the land for overriding public interest or because the holder broke the grant's conditions, such as failing to pay ground rent or develop the land. A revoked holder loses the right, with compensation limited by law.
A right of occupancy is the legal right to use and occupy a piece of land for a set term, granted or recognised by the state under the Land Use Act. It is the closest thing to owning land in Nigeria, and a Certificate of Occupancy is the paper that proves it.
A right of way is a strip of land reserved for a road, pipeline or power line, where private building is not allowed. Land inside a right of way cannot be safely built on and buildings in it are regularly demolished, so buyers should chart the plot and check its distance from roads and high-tension lines.
Roofing sheets are the metal sheets that cover most Nigerian roofs. The two most common are long-span aluminium, long continuous sheets cut to the roof's length, and stone-coated steel, metal tiles finished with stone chips that are quieter in rain and seen as premium. "Roofing level" is the stage when the roof goes on.
A room and parlour is a home with one bedroom and a sitting room, which Nigerians call the parlour. When it has its own kitchen, toilet and bathroom it is a "room and parlour self contain", the same as a mini flat. In older multi-tenant buildings it may share those facilities with other tenants.
The root of title is the document or event from which a seller's ownership claim starts, such as a C of O, a family grant or an old registered conveyance, together with the chain of transfers since. Lawyers trace it during due diligence, because a defect at the root cannot be cured by later documents.
A sales commission is the fee an estate agent earns for selling a property, usually a percentage of the price. The rate and who pays it are agreed between the agent and the client, so put both in writing before the agent starts marketing or showing the property to buyers.
Sand filling is pumping or dumping sand onto swampy or low-lying land to raise it so it can be built on. It needs environmental approval. In September 2025 Lagos halted land reclamation projects pending fresh documentation and environmental assessments, so buyers should check the current status before reclaiming land.
A self contain is a single-room home with its own private bathroom, toilet and usually a kitchenette, so the tenant shares nothing with other tenants. It is the cheapest private home in most Nigerian cities. "Self contained" describes the private facilities, not the size; elsewhere the nearest term is a studio flat.
Self-help eviction is a landlord trying to force a tenant out without a court order, for example by changing the locks, removing doors or the roof, cutting power and water, or putting belongings outside. It is unlawful in Lagos and is an offence under the 2011 Tenancy Law. Only a court can order a tenant to leave.
Maximum fine for self-help eviction in Lagos (Tenancy Law 2011), or up to 6 months' imprisonment: ₦250,000 (as of October 2026).
Proposed, not yet law: The Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 would raise the minimum fine for self-help eviction to ₦1 million. Status: passed second reading on 10 July 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Housing; reported at committee stage in May 2026 and still pending in September 2026. No third reading or governor's assent reported (confirmed 13 October 2026).
A semi-detached bungalow is a single-storey house that shares one side wall with a neighbouring house, usually its mirror image. Pairs are built together to fit two homes on one plot. It costs less than a detached bungalow in the same area but has less privacy and outside space.
A semi-detached duplex is a two-storey family house that shares one side wall with a neighbouring house, usually its mirror image. The pair stand together on one plot or two halves of a plot. It costs less than a detached duplex in the same area and is common in new estates.
Semi-finished describes a building between a carcass and move-in ready: usually roofed and plastered, with some services and fittings but not all. "Fully finished" means ready to occupy. There is no standard definition, so always ask the developer for a specification sheet listing what is included.
A service charge is a recurring payment for shared services in a building or estate, such as security, cleaning, waste collection, water, common-area power and lifts. It is paid on top of rent, usually yearly, and is set by the landlord, estate or facility manager rather than by law.
In Nigeria, a serviced apartment is a flat where the landlord or manager provides shared services such as power backup, water, security and cleaning of common areas, paid for through a service charge. This differs from the UK and US, where it usually means a hotel-style furnished let with housekeeping.
The notice of owner's intention to recover possession, usually called the 7-day notice, is the last written notice a landlord serves before going to court to get a property back. In Lagos and Abuja it follows an expired notice to quit, or the end of a fixed term, and must run out before a case can be filed.
Notice of owner's intention to recover possession (Lagos and Abuja): 7 days (as of October 2026).
Proposed, not yet law: The Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 would let landlords go straight to the 7-day notice, without a notice to quit, where rent is in arrears beyond a set period. Status: passed second reading on 10 July 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Housing; reported at committee stage in May 2026 and still pending in September 2026. No third reading or governor's assent reported (confirmed 13 October 2026).
A shared apartment is a flat where you rent a room and share the kitchen, living room and sometimes the bathroom with other tenants. It is increasingly common in Lekki, Victoria Island and Abuja as rents rise. Whoever signed the agreement is the tenant; others may need the landlord's written consent to live there.
A shop is a small commercial unit for retail, usually in a plaza or on a busy road. "Lock-up shop" is a common Nigerian listing term for a small shop with a front shutter that is locked up at night. Shops let to traders count as business premises under Lagos tenancy law.
A short let is a furnished home rented by the night, week or month, used as an alternative to a hotel. Short lets are common in Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Abuja. Some estates ban them, and short letting a rented flat without the landlord's consent can breach the tenancy agreement.
A sitting tenant is a tenant who stays on lawfully after the first term of the tenancy, including one renewing year after year. The Lagos Tenancy Law treats sitting tenants differently from new tenants for advance rent, so it matters which one you are when a landlord asks for rent upfront at renewal.
A square foot is an imperial unit of area. Nigerian plots are still often described by their sides in feet, which is why a plot named in feet and one measured in metres can differ slightly in size. Converting to square metres makes plots easy to compare.
One square foot: 0.0929 square metres (as of October 2026).
A square metre is the metric unit of area used on Nigerian survey plans and titles. Whatever a seller calls a plot, the survey plan states the land's area in square metres, so that is the number to compare between plots and to check against what you are paying for.
One square metre in square feet: 10.7639 square feet (as of October 2026).
Stamp duty is a tax paid on legal documents such as deeds of assignment, leases and mortgages so that they are officially stamped. In property deals it is part of perfecting title, because an unstamped deed is hard to rely on in court. Nigeria's stamp duty rules changed on 1 January 2026.
A statutory right of occupancy is a right to occupy and use land granted directly by a state governor, or by the FCT Minister in Abuja, under the Land Use Act. It is usually evidenced by a Certificate of Occupancy, carries rent and development conditions, and cannot be transferred without the governor's consent.
A statutory tenant is someone who stays in possession after the contractual tenancy has ended but whom the law still protects. The landlord must serve the statutory notices and go to court to recover the property. Courts have distinguished statutory tenants from tenants at sufferance, who are not entitled to the same notices.
Sources differ:
The Supreme Court allowed mesne profits against tenants who held over. (NigeriaLII, 1986)
Commentary argues statutory tenants owe compensation for use and occupation rather than mesne profits. (LegalNaija, Undated, accessed 2026)
A storey building is a building with one or more floors above the ground floor. In Nigeria "storey building" or "upstairs" is often used as a noun for such a house. Floors are counted the British way: a one-storey building has a ground floor and one floor above, so it has two levels.
A studio apartment is a single open room that serves as bedroom, living room and kitchen, with its own private bathroom. In Nigeria it overlaps with a self contain; "studio" is usually used for newer, furnished or serviced units in Lekki, Victoria Island and Abuja, and is common in short lets.
To sublet is to rent all or part of your rented home to someone else. In Lagos a tenant must not sublet without the landlord's written consent unless the agreement allows it. Unauthorised subletting, including for short lets, is a common breach of tenancy agreements and can lead to a possession claim.
A survey plan is a drawing prepared by a licensed surveyor that shows a plot's exact location, boundaries, size and coordinates. Every land title in Nigeria relies on one, and it is used to check whether land is free from government acquisition before a C of O, consent or building permit is granted.
Swamp land is low-lying or waterlogged land that must be sand-filled, and sometimes given special foundations, before anyone can build on it. It is cheaper than dry land but carries flood, construction-cost and regulatory risk, including state restrictions on reclaiming wetlands and shorelines.
A tenancy agreement is the contract between a landlord and a tenant that sets out the rent, how long the tenancy lasts, what each side must do and how it can end. In Lagos a tenancy can exist on an oral or written agreement, but a written one protects both sides far better.
A tenant at sufferance is a former tenant who stays on after the tenancy ends without the landlord either agreeing or objecting. They have no tenancy, but the landlord still needs a court order to remove them. Courts have treated this differently from a statutory tenant, who is entitled to statutory notices.
A tenant at will occupies a property with the landlord's consent but with no fixed period and no regular rent period. Either side can end the arrangement by short notice. In Lagos, if nothing is agreed, the 2011 Tenancy Law sets the shortest default notice period of all tenancies for a tenant at will.
Default notice to quit, tenant at will (Lagos): 1 week (as of October 2026).
A tenement building is an older multi-tenant building of single rooms, often arranged as face-me-I-face-you, with shared toilets, bathrooms and kitchens. The classic Lagos mainland version, sometimes called a "Lagos house", has two floors with rooms off a central passage and balconies to the front.
A terraced bungalow is a single-storey house in a row of joined houses, sharing walls with the neighbours on both sides except at the ends. Terraced bungalows are less common than terraced duplexes but appear in some estates and older government housing schemes, and they are usually the cheapest bungalows in an area.
A terraced duplex is one of a row of two-storey houses joined side by side, sharing walls with the neighbours on both sides, except at the ends of the row. Terraced duplexes are common in new Lagos and Abuja estates and are often the most affordable way to own a duplex in a gated estate.
Title perfection is the set of steps that turns a signed purchase into fully recognised legal title. In Lagos it means applying for Governor's Consent, paying the assessed charges, charting the survey, then stamping and registering the deed. An unperfected title can lose out to a later registered buyer and is poor loan security.
A townhouse is a modern house of two or more floors in a row or cluster of similar houses, usually in an estate. It is close to a terraced duplex but often has a smaller footprint and more floors. Property Centre lists townhouses as a house sub-type for rent and for sale.
Two years' rent is a demand for two years of rent before a tenant moves in. It is still common in Abuja and some other cities. In most of Lagos it breaks the advance-rent limit in the 2011 Tenancy Law for new tenants, and the tenant who pays can be fined as well as the landlord.
Most rent a Lagos landlord may demand in advance from a new tenant (Tenancy Law 2011): 1 year (as of October 2026).
An unreasonable rent increase is a rent rise that a sitting tenant in Lagos can ask a court to review under the 2011 Tenancy Law. The court looks at rents for similar property in the area and the circumstances. Lagos law sets no percentage limit on rent increases, now or in the 2025 Bill.
A valuation is a professional opinion of a property's value, prepared by a registered estate surveyor and valuer. Banks require one before lending, and buyers, joint venture partners and families sharing property use them to agree a fair price. In Nigeria valuers are registered under a federal law.
A warehouse is a large building for storing goods, let or sold for logistics, distribution and trade. In Lagos most warehouses are near the ports, the airport and industrial areas such as Apapa, Ikeja and Agbara. Property Centre lists them under commercial property for rent and for sale.
A yearly tenancy runs from year to year, with rent paid yearly, until someone ends it with a notice to quit. Most Nigerian residential lettings are yearly. It is different from a fixed one-year term that simply expires, which in Lagos needs no notice to quit, only the notice of owner's intention.
Default notice to quit, yearly tenancy (Lagos and Abuja): 6 months (as of October 2026).
