How Much Does It Cost to Buy Property in Abuja? Fees, Searches and Timelines
Beyond the asking price, buying property in Abuja involves an agency fee (5% with Mansa Luxe), legal fees (in our experience usually about 5% and sometimes up to 10%), a survey (roughly ₦100,000 to ₦200,000) and searches at AGIS and the courts. Allow three to five working days for the searches.
Agency fee: 5%
Our agency fee on a sale is 5% of the sale price.
Legal fees: usually 5%, up to 10%
Depends on the property and your lawyer's terms. Agree it in writing.
Survey: about ₦100k to ₦200k
Confirms the plot matches the C of O and the Abuja master plan.
Searches: 3 to 5 working days
AGIS and court searches plus confirming the seller's identity in Abuja.
What you pay for, and why
These figures come from transactions we have handled in Asaba and Abuja. They are our experience rather than a legal fee schedule, so agree every fee in writing before work starts.
- Agency fee: 5% of the sale price.
- Legal fees: usually about 5%, sometimes up to 10%. This pays your property lawyer to confirm the title and run the searches.
- Survey: roughly ₦100,000 to ₦200,000, depending on the plot.
- Searches at AGIS and the courts: small amounts compared with the price of the property.
The checks your lawyer runs
To buy or sell an Abuja property properly you need the original C of O, the governor's consent, an AGIS search (Abuja Geographic Information Systems) and a court search, because a property may be under a legal dispute. Your lawyer also confirms that the name of the seller, or the selling company, matches what the records show.
Governor's consent may work differently for some properties inside estates, so ask your lawyer what applies to yours. The C of O is the most important document either way.
Why the survey is not optional
A surveyor checks the plot on the ground and confirms that it tallies with the C of O and with the government's master plan. Abuja has a master plan that every building must follow, and a building that encroaches on it is a serious problem.
How long it takes
In our experience the searches take about two working days in Asaba. In Abuja allow five working days, and expect it to take three to five. You are searching AGIS and the courts, confirming the seller's identity and confirming the governor's consent.
Our rule: no C of O, no sale
We will not sell a property without a Certificate of Occupancy. In our experience a power of attorney or a deed of allocation is not a substitute for it. The C of O tells you what the property is actually for.
Hire a property lawyer who understands how property scams work. It is the single most important protection you have in a Nigerian property purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
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