Understanding Land Sizes in Nigeria
Apparently, if you are new to real estate, you may have been seeing some of Nigerian's property listings where prices like "1 million naira per square metre" are quoted, and you can't help but wonder just how large is a plot of land in square metres and how much will it amount to? What's the size of a plot compared to an acre? What is the difference between an Acre and a Hectare of land? Not to worry; let's demystify the world of land sizes – Plots, Acres, and Hectares.
Understanding the Basics:
Firstly, Nigeria land measurement terminologies can seem quite perplexing, especially when property values and sizes are often quoted in different units and measurements depending on the location of the land, government regulations or alongside human factors.
Plot of Land:
A "plot" of land in Nigeria is a term that varies slightly across regions. However, it's generally considered to be a designated piece of land used for building purposes. In urban areas like Lagos, for State Government Schemes, sizes are usually around 1,200sqm, 900sqm and 600sqm.
Acre of Land:
An "acre" is a larger unit of land measurement, and it's widely used in real estate. One acre is equivalent to 4,047 square meters. To put it into perspective, a standard football field is about 0.75 acres in size. So, when you see an acre quoted in property listings, you know you're dealing with a substantial piece of land. In measurement, it sums up to a total of 4,046sqm Or 43,560sq ft. An acre consists of 6 plots each measuring 60 x 120ft. One Acre is about 40% of a hectare.
Hectare of Land:
A "hectare" is another commonly used unit of land measurement. It's larger than an acre and is equal to 10,000 square meters. Picture a square with each side measuring about 100 meters – that's a hectare. Hectares are often used to measure larger parcels of land, especially in agricultural and commercial contexts.
Initially, plots were approximately 1000sqm but as prices for land went up you get the same quote per plot but this can be 400sqm or less in government reserved areas in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and some other states.
While some places in Nigeria still offer over 1000sqm in measurement per plots. For Example, new layouts in Calabar offer up to 1,100sqm for commercial plots. A building that can fit into a 50′ x 100′ plot of land in Benin might not be allowed in say Delta or Lagos State because they need longer setbacks (6m) from the road. Lekki needs 9m!
On legality and documents; So when buying land as a developer or personal use,make proper inspection, take a tape measure if possible and determine the surface area of Square meters then divide by 10,000 to know whether what is indicated on the title deed.
Understanding land sizes in Nigeria is essential for making informed decisions in your real estate journey. Whether you're considering building a home, for development, investing in agricultural land, or venturing into commercial properties, having a clear understanding of these measurements will empower you to navigate the real estate landscape with confidence. This knowledge will help you assess property values accurately, negotiate even more effectively, and make well-informed decisions that align with your real estate goals.
