What separates credible Nigerian software firms
A verifiable portfolio
Ask for 3–5 live projects. Not screenshots, but live URLs you can open and test. Any firm that cannot show you live work has not built anything worth showing. Check that the sites are actually functional: forms work, pages load, products are orderable.
A CAC-registered company
Individual freelancers can be excellent, but for any project above ₦500,000 you want a registered company. This means someone is legally accountable if things go wrong. Ask for the RC number and verify it on the CAC portal.
A defined process, not just promises
Ask how they manage projects. The answer tells you everything. A good firm will describe discovery, design, development, testing, and handover phases with timelines. A vague answer ('we build it and deliver') is a warning sign.
A named project manager or account owner
The person who sells you the project is rarely the person who builds it. Find out who your single point of contact is throughout delivery. If they cannot name one, you will spend months chasing WhatsApp messages from multiple people with no one accountable.
Post-launch support terms in writing
The most common complaint about Nigerian software companies is disappearing after delivery. Get the post-launch support policy in the contract: response times, what is covered, and what it costs.
References you can actually call
Ask for 2 client references and call them. Not WhatsApp messages from the company's phone, but actual clients you can speak to independently. A firm confident in their work will provide this.
Red flags that should stop you
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No physical address or office: just a WhatsApp number and Instagram page.
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Portfolio only contains screenshots, mockups, or designs, no live URLs.
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They quote a price before understanding what you need.
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They promise a timeline that sounds unrealistically fast for the complexity described.
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They cannot explain what technology they will use to build your project.
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They ask for 100% payment upfront before any work begins.
EVALUATING ZOZZAH?
We welcome the scrutiny
Ask us for our portfolio, references, CAC registration, and project process. We have all of it ready. 20 offices across Nigeria. We are not going anywhere.