Nigeria's Real Estate Shifts Towards Eco-Estate Developments

Nigeria's approach to land as a store of wealth has been traditional, focusing on buying land early and selling it later for profit. However, a shift towards eco-estate developments is emerging, as highlighted by the Africa Wealth Report 2026, which predicts that over 60% of Africa’s centi-millionaires could own eco-estates by 2050.

These eco-estates prioritize indigenous wilderness and biodiversity, offering amenities like forests and rivers as part of the property value. In Nigeria, early examples include SilverBell Estates’ LifeTown in Epe, which promotes eco-friendly living with over 500 trees planted.

Other developments are beginning to merge property with tourism and leisure, but this remains an exception. The prevailing model still treats land as a simple asset, risking a repeat of past mistakes where infrastructure development leads to land price surges without preserving the natural landscape.

Recent developments like Nautica Beach Resort and a 56-hectare aquatic and golf resort in Badagry indicate a potential shift towards destination development.