Imagine you own a piece of land. Not just any land, but a plot that has been in your family for generations. You have the stories, the memories, and even some old, faded documents to prove it. This land is your heritage.

Now, imagine someone else shows up with a shiny, new government-issued certificate. They say the land is theirs now, and their official paper trumps your family’s history.

This isn’t a hypothetical story; it’s a very real and common problem in Nigeria and this creates what is known as a land tenure dispute.

In our country, Nigeria, land isn’t just dirt’s. Its money, legacy, and sometimes, trouble waiting to happen. Almost every week, we hear stories of families, neighbours, or even entire communities fighting over plots of land.

Some disputes end in the courts, but many escalate into clashes that destroy property and ruin lives. But why does this happen so often? The answer lies in a mix of confusing laws, family practices, rapid urban growth, fraud, and weak enforcement.

Confusing Land Laws

Nigeria’s land laws are supposed to protect everyone, but they sometimes do the opposite. The Land Use Act of 1978 made the government the custodian of all land in the states, meaning individuals technically don’t “own” land in the traditional sense.

This creates loopholes that multiple people can exploit. Someone might claim a plot with old family documents, while another person shows a government-issued certificate. The result? A lot of people end up fighting over the same land, sometimes for years

Cities Growing Too Fast

Urbanization has turned cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and even smaller towns into land goldmines.

As people move to these areas in search of jobs or business opportunities, demand for land skyrockets. Informal sales, overlapping plots, and encroachments become common, leading to disputes.

Land that was once “empty” can suddenly become contested property, most especially when its value increases overnight.

Fraud and Fake Titles

Fraud in the land market is quite common in Nigeria. Fake land titles, forged documents, and double sales leave innocent buyers losing millions.

Sometimes, even local chiefs and government officials get involved, making it difficult to know who truly owns a plot. This creates mistrust and tension, and disputes can escalate quickly when buyers discover they’ve been duped.

Slow Legal Process

Even when land disputes are taken to court, the system often moves too slowly. Years can pass before a judgment is delivered, during which conflicts continue to simmer.

Delayed resolutions create frustration and sometimes lead people to take the law into their own hands, which can turn a simple disagreement into violent clashes.

Family Inheritance Disputes

Family land disputes are the most common in Nigeria. When an elder passes away, the questions of “who gets what?” can quickly turn into arguments or even violent confrontations.

Many families follow communal or customary land practices, where boundaries are not clearly marked, and inheritance is shared informally. Without legal documents or wills, relatives can end up in bitter fights that fracture families and communities.

The Land That Almost Split a Family

In a small town in Delta State, the Okoro family had a piece of land that had been in their family for generations.

It wasn’t just land. It was their father’s legacy, a place where the children grew up playing and farming. But when Papa Okoro passed away, trouble started.

Without a proper will, his five children all claimed the land as their own. The eldest, Chuka, insisted he should inherit the entire plot because he had helped their father the most.

The second-born, Ada, argued that everyone should get an equal share. Neighbours, sensing the tension, began taking sides, and soon the once-peaceful family found themselves in daily arguments.

Things got worse when a local developer approached one of the siblings with an offer to buy part of the land.

Documents were forged, and promises were made. Before long, some siblings were threatening each other, and the family feud became the talk of the town.

This story is all too common in Nigeria. Confusing land laws, inheritance disputes, and fake titles create tension, while slow legal processes allow small disagreements to escalate.

That’s where MyPlace.ng comes in. At MyPlace.ng, you can:

• Find trusted agents so you don’t risk losing money
• Access verified real estate agencies across Nigeria with their listings.

At MyPlace.ng, you’re not just buying land; you’re protecting your family, your money, and your future. Like the Okoros learned the hard way, peace of mind is priceless when it comes to land in Nigeria.

Final Thoughts

Land is more than just soil. It’s wealth, security, and a legacy for the next generation. Protecting it wisely safeguards property and also keeps families and communities intact. In Nigeria, being proactive is the best way to avoid becoming another statistic in the long list of land disputes.