What to Ask Before Hiring a Web Developer in Nigeria: 15 Questions

The questions that protect your money, your website and your time before you hire a developer.

Last updated: September 2026

Short answer: before hiring a web developer in Nigeria, confirm four things in writing: exactly what will be built and by when, what it costs including hosting and domain, that you will own the website, domain and all logins, and what support you get after launch. Then check their past work and ask how they handle speed, security and SEO.

Scope and Price

1. What exactly is included? Number of pages, features, forms, payment integration and revisions. Look for: a written list, not “a full website”.
2. What is the total cost, and what is extra? Hosting, domain, premium plugins, content writing and images. Look for: a fixed price with extras named.
3. How is payment split? Look for: milestones, such as a deposit, payment on design approval and the balance at launch.
4. What is the timeline, and what do you need from me? Delays often come from missing content, so agree who provides text and images.

Ownership and Access

5. Whose name will the domain be registered in? Look for: yours.
6. Will I get admin, hosting and domain logins? Look for: yes, at launch.
7. Do I own the design and code? Look for: full ownership once paid, and properly licensed themes and plugins, never “nulled” copies.

Quality, Speed and Security

8. Can I see websites you built, and speak to a client? Open them on your phone and check how fast they load.
9. How will you make the site fast on mobile data? Look for: image compression, caching and good hosting.
10. How will you secure it? Look for: HTTPS, updates, backups and limited admin access.
11. Is SEO set up at launch? Look for: page titles, meta descriptions, sitemap, Google Search Console and a Google Business Profile.
12. Will I be able to edit it myself? Look for: a walkthrough at handover.

After Launch

13. What support is included after launch, and for how long?
14. Who handles updates and backups, and what does ongoing maintenance cost?
15. If something breaks, how fast do you respond, and how do I reach you?

Red Flags

• No written agreement, only WhatsApp messages.
• Full payment upfront before any design is shown.
• Refusing to hand over logins or registering your domain in their name.
• A price far below everyone else with no explanation of what is included.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should a website cost in Nigeria?

It depends on size and features. At AD Technologies, a landing page starts from ₦180,000 and a business website from ₦400,000. Read how much a website costs in Nigeria for a full breakdown.

Freelancer or agency?

A good freelancer can be great for a simple site. An agency usually offers more skills, such as design, SEO and security, and continuity if one person is unavailable. Ask both the same questions.

Which platform should my developer use?

It depends on your business. Read WordPress vs Wix vs Shopify for a Nigerian business.

What if my developer disappears?

If the domain and hosting are in your name and you have the logins, another developer can take over. That is why ownership is the most important question on this list.