There is a growing debate in the investment community: inflation over the next 20 to 30 years will erode the returns of most paper assets (stocks, bonds, savings accounts, etc ) faster than they can grow. While that reality should not discourage you from investing, it does raise an important question: where should your money go? The simple answer to that is LAND
They say land does not depreciate. In an economy where inflation steadily erodes salaries, devalues savings, and punishes the unprepared, a plot of land quietly holds its value and, over time, multiplies it. For young Nigerians navigating financial uncertainty, buying land today may be one of the most powerful wealth-building decisions available.
In 2010, shortly after completing my NYSC, I purchased a plot of land in Abeokuta for N200,000. A year later I sold it for N300,000 and thought I had done well. Today, land in that same area sells for no less than N7 million per plot. That is a 35x return in just 16 years.
The logic is straightforward. Land in emerging commercial corridors, in states like Ogun, Edo, and Enugu, can realistically appreciate 10 to 20 times over the next two decades. You can still acquire plots in these areas for as little as N500,000.
Do not be discouraged if the location looks undeveloped today. What matters most is access. Look for areas with an existing road and signs that development is already moving in that direction. Today's bush is tomorrow's estate.
If your finances allow, buy in multiple locations and leave at least one plot untouched for 20 to 30 years. Resist the urge to sell early. Patience is the strategy.
While you wait, protect what you own:
- Fence the land to prevent encroachment.
- Secure proper documentation. A Certificate of Occupancy or a registered deed is non-negotiable.
- Consider planting a perennial crop such as oil palm, cashew, or teak. These generate passive income while the land appreciates beneath them.
Final Word
No matter how difficult things feel right now, buying land and staying patient remains one of the most reliable paths to long-term wealth. You are not just purchasing a plot of earth you are buying time, security, and a future that inflation cannot easily touch.
Let time do the heavy lifting.
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