The Nigerian software development market has exceptional talent at the top and significant risk at the bottom — and both ends look similar from a website or sales conversation. Here's the technical due diligence checklist that separates reliable agencies from expensive mistakes.
1. Show me live products
Not mockups. Not screenshots. Actual URLs of working software real users are using. Run Lighthouse on them. Test on mobile. Test on 3G throttling in DevTools. What you see is what your project will look like.
2. Have you built something like my project?
General software experience ≠ relevant experience. Ask specifically about your project type and listen for specificity. Vague answers about "similar projects" without details signal shallow experience.
3. How do you handle Nigerian-specific requirements?
Test with concrete questions:
- How do you handle Paystack webhook failures?
- What's your NDPR compliance approach?
- How do you handle Nigerian card decline rates in payment flows?
Specific, practical answers = real experience. Generic answers = red flag.
4. Who actually builds my software?
Some agencies outsource without disclosure. Ask to meet the specific developer assigned to your project before signing. Quality agencies have no reason to resist this.
5. Who owns the code?
100% source code ownership to the client upon final payment. In the contract. No exceptions. Any hesitation or qualification here is a walk-away signal.
6. What are the payment terms?
Legitimate structure: 40-50% upfront, remainder on delivery/milestones. 100% upfront = no delivery incentive. 100% on completion only = also a signal worth noting.
7. What's your post-launch support policy?
Get in writing: warranty period, bug fix response times, what's included vs charged separately, and who to contact for critical issues at 2am.
Red Flags Summary
const redFlags = [
'No live portfolio',
'Agrees to everything without asking questions',
'Cannot name specific technologies',
'Vague on IP ownership',
'Requests 100% upfront payment',
'No structured development process',
'Quote significantly below all others',
'No contract before work starts'
];
ZikarelHub LTD is Nigeria's leading software development company — CAC registered, 5+ years experience, 60+ projects delivered.
What would you add to this checklist from your own experience? 👇
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