📖 ABSTRACT/OVERVIEW
Commercial real estate transactions in Abuja involve complex legal risks including title defects, undisclosed encumbrances, planning violations, and disputed ownership that can expose investors and developers to significant financial and legal liability. This study examines the management of legal risks in commercial real estate transactions in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory from a practitioner perspective, drawing on qualitative data from 40 structured interviews with real estate lawyers, property developers, and transaction advisers in Abuja. Using a professional inquiry methodology, the research evaluates the due diligence processes, contract structuring strategies, and risk allocation mechanisms that practitioners currently employ, alongside analysis of transaction disputes recorded with the Abuja Geographic Information Systems between 2020 and 2024. Findings reveal that inadequate title verification, reliance on informal land documents, and the co-existence of multiple land tenure systems in the FCT are the primary sources of transactional risk. The study further examines how regulatory changes under the Land Use Act and FCT land administration policies affect deal certainty and completion timelines. Recommendations include the development of a standardised due diligence checklist for commercial property transactions in the FCT, mandatory title insurance products, and enhanced professional training for real estate lawyers in risk identification and management. Keywords: commercial real estate, legal risk management, Abuja, due diligence, title verification
Need Complete Chapters of the Above Topic?
Get high-quality, Zero-AI research materials with current citations.
Request via WhatsApp 💬