Ambode berates estate agents for lack of standard in practice

Lagos promises good governance at council level

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has decried lack of standards in real estate agency in Nigeria. He said Nigerians had been defrauded to the tune of several billions of naira as a result of the activities of dubious and unqualified agents.

Ambode, who spoke yesterday at the first edition of 2017 yearly stakeholders’ forum organised by the Lagos State Real State Transaction Department (LASRETRAD) in Ikeja, noted that the sharp practice is more prevalent in Lagos due to increasing population of the people in need of space for accommodation and commercial purposes.

The governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Housing, Mrs. Aramide Giwanson, said the practice had been left open to all comers, including those who do not have the basic training and qualification as a result of the lack of a central professional/regulatory body.

He, therefore, urged all relevant stakeholders in the real estate sector to partner government in the task of ridding the sector of dubious and unqualified agents.

In another development, the state government has re-affirmed its commitment to the delivery of dividends of democracy in consonance with the new imperatives of good governance at the grassroots.

The state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, who stated this yesterday at the induction programme for 57 newly-elected local council and development area officials, said the present administration had worked tirelessly in promoting collaboration among all tiers of government.

He noted that the programme was borne out of a compelling need to prepare the new council officials with the expectation of their respective offices.

Folami, who enjoined the chairmen and their teams to take full advantage of the programme and identify with the culture of good governance at the third tier of government, and as good ambassadors of the state, said: “This charge has become compelling in view of the fervent belief that local council is not only the closest to the people, but possesses the capacity to be more impactful in fulfilling the wishes and aspirations of the people at the grassroots.

“I, therefore, charge you all to make yourself available to your people and always remember government’s policy thrust of giving governance back to the people at the grassroots.”