Detty December Boom: Diaspora Buyers Target Ibeju-Lekki And Epe As Harmony Gardens Leads The Charge

With Nigeria’s famous “Detty December” season just months away, the real estate market is gearing up for a surge in demand, as a series of real estate activism initiatives continue in their efforts to sanitize the business environment in complement to the LASREED effort to make sure investment in real estate becomes safer, especially for Nigerians in the diaspora who are returning home in large numbers. Lagos remains West Africa’s most lucrative property hub, but all eyes are on the Lekki–Epe expressway corridor, where infrastructure and prime locations are rewriting the rules.

Ibeju-Lekki and Epe are at the center of this boom, thanks to mega projects like the Lekki Aviation Town, directly facing the upcoming Lekki–Epe International Airport; The Parliament Estate, directly facing Aiyetoro Govt. Residential Scheme near Pan Atlantic University; and GranVille Estate, strategically located along Eleko Beach Road leading to the Dangote Refinery. All these locations are pulling strong interest from diaspora buyers, who make up almost 80% of the market in this season.

Industry analysts said a tougher financing climate is pushing buyers toward off-plan deals and flexible payment plans, a shift Harmony Gardens and Estate Development Ltd. has been quick to capitalize on through its Harmony Renewed Hope Mortgage System and the Ibile Traditional Mortgage System, offering single-digit interest rates over five years.

“The company, as well known for her seven developing estates tagged The Seven Citadels of Joy (Ogba-Idunnu), are designed to bridge the housing gap with genuine land in prime locations and affordable payment structures,” said the man behind the movement, Hon. (Dr.) Saheed Mosadoluwa, popularly known as The Lagos Landlord.

“We are not just selling houses; we are building communities that blend urban living with neighborhood charm.”

Market data shows that in 2025, prices in the Lekki–Epe axis are holding firm: raging from 2-bedroom apartment starts ₦54m, Terrace: ₦97m, 3-bedroom bungalow: ₦85m, Luxury duplex (3–5 bedrooms): ₦227m, especially true in premium enclaves like Asake Cottages and GranVille Cinema, most of which Harmony Gardens & Estate Development Ltd. bestows with the option of Rent to Fully Owned, with 60 months’ tenor repayment options at single-digit annual interest for any prospects that choose their Ibile Traditional Mortgage System, or up to 30 years if a client chooses Harmony Renewed Hope with the FGN Federal Mortgage Bank intervention.

The December rush also overlaps with a booming short-let market. The arrival of international visitors, tourists, and diaspora families pushes up short-term rental rates in hot zones like Ikoyi, Victoria Island, and Lekki. Harmony Gardens’ estates, positioned within a 25-minute drive of these hubs, are attracting investors chasing high holiday yields.

Beyond location, buyers are becoming more sophisticated, asking questions about fraud risks, drainage systems, flood zones, energy efficiency, and material quality. Harmony Gardens’ 1,300-hectare portfolio of verified, titled land has given it an edge in meeting these demands, with a push toward greener, more energy-efficient designs to protect long-term asset value.

With the Dangote Refinery, Lekki Free Trade Zone, and Lekki–Epe International Airport acting as catalysts, experts said property values in the corridor will continue to climb. And with “Detty December” just around the corner, the race to secure a slice of Ibeju-Lekki’s future is heating up.