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One of the most dangerous sectors in Nigeria is Real Estate. This is a sector where landgrabbers (Omoonile) employ dark arts like ‘Area Boys’, charms to scare people away from the land and even beat or kill individuals over unlawful demands.
Insecurity in the Lagos real estate market goes beyond physical crime. It includes physical threats (kidnapping of agents), financial fraud (fake listings), tenure uncertainty (government demolitions), and economic volatility (soaring construction costs). Navigating this environment requires careful, multi-layered due diligence. Criminal syndicates are increasingly targeting real estate agents and prospective tenants, using property inspections in isolated or developing areas as bait for kidnappings. In Lagos for instance, Real estate players rely on Police escorts mainly for protection against hostile Omo-Oniles (indigenous land-grabbing families), to secure remote project sites, and to prevent kidnappings—which are common risks for developers working in rapidly developing areas like Ibeju-Lekki and Epe. In Lagos State, almost all real estate stakeholders use Police escorts, either as small or large players, because of the danger they often face in the sector.
Currently, many property developers have abandoned many of their projects in areas where there is insecurity. A few weeks ago, popular real estate player Bamidele Onalaja, who is the former Chairman of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), revealed that many of them cannot visit certain sites again because they could be attacked. He further stated that before the withdrawal of Police escorts, what they normally did was scare land grabbers away from the site by shooting in the air when they went to the sites. However, the other security available has its own limits and cannot match the Police, which has exposed them significantly. The President of REDAN, Oba Akintoye Adeoye, also spoke recently, saying that developers cannot even deliver on their promises to their clients by the deadlines they have agreed upon as a result of the withdrawal of escorts. He added that the worsening security situation has forced some residents to abandon completed estates.
“And there are some estates that have been delivered; their residents are moving out because of the insecurity. If you look at Ogun State, between Abeokuta and Mowe, there are estates within that corridor where people have left due to insecurity. “I know of an estate where kidnappers have actually abducted residents three times. On one occasion, one of the residents was killed. It is affecting our business,” he said.
Adeoye further disclosed that several developers and their workers had been kidnapped while carrying out construction activities. “Some of our members were abducted at their site, including their staff. Not one, not two, not three, and ransom was paid. The security of lives and property is one of the primary duties of government,” he said.
Below are major concerns of many developers and why police escorts are needed in their operations. Omo-Onile and land grabbers: Developers often face violent clashes with local factions or hired thugs who frequently disrupt construction sites. Armed escorts act as a deterrent against forceful takeovers or the vandalism of multi-million naira properties. Kidnapping threats: Developers, agents, and their legal representatives are often high-profile targets for kidnappers, who frequently pose as property buyers to lure real estate professionals to secluded or undeveloped areas. Lack of local security force: Due to the severe shortage of general police manpower in the remote and expanding peripheries of Lagos, developers often hire armed escorts to secure project sites and protect investors touring uncompleted estates. Intimidation and leverage: Unfortunately, the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria has noted that some dubious operators employ armed escorts simply to intimidate dissatisfied clients or to prevent buyers from demanding rightful documentation or refunds.
High crime rates and localized instability directly impact property valuations. Many residents and investors are shifting their focus to gated, strictly monitored estates (e.g., in Ikeja, Magodo, or Ikoyi) rather than open neighbourhoods. Stakeholders in the sector have also raised alarm that the insecurity facing Nigeria, not just Lagos, has further weakened the sector. Nigeria’s real estate sector is facing growing operational challenges as insecurity and the withdrawal of security escorts in some parts of the country continue to disrupt construction activities and delay project delivery. Industry stakeholders warn that the security situation is increasing development costs, affecting investor confidence and slowing the pace of housing delivery at a time when the country already faces a significant housing deficit. Developers and construction firms say security concerns have become a major factor influencing project timelines, workforce mobility and investment decisions. The situation is particularly affecting projects located in emerging development corridors and areas where security risks have increased in recent years. The real estate sector relies heavily on the movement of workers, contractors, equipment and construction materials across project locations. Security threats, including kidnappings, attacks on construction sites and risks associated with transporting personnel, have created additional operational difficulties for developers. Industry participants note that many projects now require enhanced security arrangements, resulting in higher project costs and longer implementation periods. In some cases, contractors have reportedly adjusted work schedules or restricted activities in certain locations due to safety concerns.
– Isaac Abimbade
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