By Maduka Nweke
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Reo-Habilis Construction Limited, Kunle Awobodu, has advised Nigerians who are eager to invest in real estate to always ascertain the status of the property they intend to buy before committing their hard earned money.
Awobodu, a former President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), noted that appropriate documentation should precede purchase of property in real estate business. According to him, ensuring that the title document is genuine using established search procedures before committing funds is a major prerequisite.
Speaking to Daily Sun on his experience, Mr. Gideon Okafor, who deals on motor spare parts, said during the recent demolition in the Abule -Ado axis of Amuwo-Odofin, he witnessed beautiful houses that were pulled down by Government agencies for want of one thing or the other. “I constructed two buildings which the government said encroached on the road. The two buildings were pulled down despite the fact that I came to the area in 2010 when there were no roads. After I stayed for some time, the FHA came in, identified and measured the roads,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has warned prospective home buyers to beware of a real estate developer, HouseHeight Developers who claim to be agents of the Lagos State Government. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Lagos State Mr. Abdulafeez Toriola, handed down the warning during a recent management meeting at the State Secretariat, Alausa, Lagos.
He advised prospective home owners particularly in diaspora to refrain from transacting any business with the firm and their agents on any deal involving Harmony Court along Command Road, Ipaja, Ayobo – Ipaja LCDA, Lagos State.
Toriola alleged that the Managing Director of House Heights Limited, Mrs. Ngozi Elizabeth Ola – David, popularly known as Ngozi Elizabeth Phil-Ebosie is not an agent or partner of Lagos State Government and has not been appointed to deal on behalf of the State Government in respect of some three-bedroom apartment located at Harmony Estate.
“Any claim by anyone that he or she is an appointed agent by the Ministry is false and should be disregarded”, he affirmed.
He further revealed that the erstwhile partnership between the State Government and House Heights Limited has been terminated due to non-performance in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contractual agreement.
Toriola further advised the members of the public, particularly those in diaspora to disregard the claims of ownership by HouseHeight saying “anyone who deals with the firm or any of its agents or buys home from her in violation of this notice does so at his or her own risk.”
The Director of Legal Services, Ministry of Housing Lagos State, Mrs. Bukade Idowu-Koya, added that anyone interested in the homes should contact the office of the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Housing, Block 3 / Second floor, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.