Why That Wike-Soldier Land Clash Is A Lesson For Nigerian Investors

This incident perfectly illustrates why banks in Nigeria no longer accept land or buildings as collateral, and why many businesses struggle quietly.

Imagine this:
Mama Ngozi owns a piece of land in Abuja with a profitable plaza. She goes to the bank for a ₦200 million loan, offering the land as collateral. The officer politely declines:

“Madam, we can’t take this land… what if the government revokes it tomorrow?”

Mama Ngozi protests, “I have a C of O! How can that happen?” But yesterday, we all saw it: a government minister and soldiers both claimed ownership over the same land.

Now imagine that land was already pledged to a bank. A sudden revocation instantly destroys its value, leaving banks, businesses, and the economy exposed.

This is why land—once considered the strongest collateral—is now the weakest in Nigeria. Every disputed plot undermines:

• Business confidence

• Entrepreneurial access to credit

• Investor trust in real estate

Smart investors have adapted. They no longer rely on land—they turn to financial instruments that are secure and liquid, like:

• Government Bonds

• Treasury Bills

• Eurobonds

• Commercial Papers

• Mutual Funds and Equities

These assets can’t be arbitrarily revoked. Present ₦100 million in government bonds at a bank, and the manager treats it as risk-free collateral.

Land is visible wealth; financial instruments are transferable power. The poor measure wealth by plots they own; the rich measure wealth by what they can liquidate instantly without government interference.

So next time you see the Wike-soldier video, don’t just laugh. Understand what it signals: the fragility of Nigerian land as collateral and the urgent need for financial literacy.

In a country where government can revoke land overnight, trust-backed, government-guaranteed assets are the safest collateral. The rich already know this. Will you learn in time?

Reference: @anene_azubuike