Tenancy agreement in Nigeria: clauses to watch for

A tenancy agreement in Nigeria is usually two to four pages of legal language, handed to you at signing with a pen and a request to initial every page. Most tenants sign without reading. Then, 8 months into the lease, they discover a clause that makes them liable for a repair they assumed was the landlord's, or caps their ability to break the lease, or allows the landlord to raise rent by any amount on renewal.

Reading the agreement carefully takes 30 minutes. Not reading it can cost you hundreds of thousands of naira over the term. This guide walks through every clause that actually matters in a typical Nigerian residential tenancy agreement, what the fair version of each looks like, and when to push for changes before signing.

For the broader rental process see the pillar how to rent a house in Nigeria.

The agreement's job

A tenancy agreement exists to:

1. Identify the parties (landlord, tenant) with legal certainty
2. Specify the property being leased
3. State the rent, payment terms, and term length
4. Allocate rights and responsibilities between the parties
5. Govern the end of the tenancy and any disputes

A good agreement is specific, balanced, and enforceable. A bad agreement is vague, one-sided, and invites conflict. Most Nigerian agreements land somewhere in the middle — workable but with specific clauses that favour landlords.

Clause 1: The parties

What it looks like:

"This Tenancy Agreement is made between John Adeyemi Adebayo (hereinafter 'the Landlord') and Chidera Okafor (hereinafter 'the Tenant')."

What to check:

• Landlord's name matches their ID and the C of O or deed of assignment
• Your name is spelled correctly and matches your ID
• If an agent is involved, they should be named as "Agent for the Landlord" not as a principal

Red flag: If the landlord's name on the agreement differs from the name on the property documents, ask for explanation. It may be legitimate (company-held property, death of original owner) but requires documentation.

See how to verify your landlord is real (without paying anyone).

Clause 2: The property description

What it looks like:

"The Landlord hereby lets and the Tenant hereby takes the premises situate at Plot 25, Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, being a 2-bedroom flat on the ground floor of Block C."