By Lydia Chigozie-Ngwakwe
The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos State Branch, has called for a partnership with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to curb growing quack activities in the real estate sector.
The Chairman of NIESV, Lagos Branch, Mr Tosin Kadiri, made the call during a courtesy visit to the NAN Lagos office on Tuesday.
He stressed the urgent need to educate the public and protect property investments from unqualified practitioners.
Kadiri noted that the rise of quacks in the built environment had made it difficult for many Nigerians to differentiate between certified estate surveyors and untrained individuals.
He said this confusion had led many to poor decisions, financial losses, and, in some cases, building failures.
According to him, estate surveyors and valuers play a key role in all aspects of real estate, including consultancy, property development, valuation, land administration, and advisory services.
He added that many property owners fall into the wrong hands due to a lack of proper information, rather than bad intentions.
He said: “There is nothing you want to do in real estate without involving professionals. Real estate is a lifetime investment, and it should not be entrusted to quacks.”
He added that the institution, which has over 10,000 members nationwide and more than 5,000 in Lagos State, was committed to promoting public interest and safeguarding investments through professional guidance.
The chairman also expressed concern over cases of building collapse and demolition in Lagos, attributing many of them to a lack of proper approvals, poor supervision, and the use of unqualified practitioners.
He noted that many Nigerians built on land without proper titles or approvals due to ignorance, while others cut corners during construction.
To address these challenges, the chairman said that NIESV planned to work with NAN to create awareness of key real estate processes, including land registration, regularisation,
approvals, and financing options.
He also observed that there were significant information gaps in the sector, including how individuals could access housing or finance property development in spite of having the resources.
Responding, the Head of Operations, NAN Lagos Office, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, welcomed the proposed partnership, describing NAN as the right platform to amplify the institution’s message.
She stated that they were in the right place and had chosen the right platform, adding that NAN was the foremost news agency in Africa, with a reach across all media platforms.
Omowole said that NAN had offices across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, with additional international presence, making it a strong platform for nationwide and global visibility.
She added that a large percentage of radio stations and other media organisations depended on NAN for credible news, while its website attracted wide global traffic.
According to her, NAN also offers services such as PR Wire and website publication, which can help organisations effectively communicate their messages to a wider audience.
She assured the delegation that “NAN does not charge for basic news coverage but provides optional paid services for wider publicity.”
Omowole stressed the importance of partnering with professional bodies like NIESV to reduce incidents of building collapse and misinformation in the real estate sector.
She noted that many disasters reported by NAN, including building collapses, could be prevented if proper professional guidance was followed from the beginning.
She emphasised that it was always better to start with professionals, adding that if people worked with them from the onset, many of those problems would be avoided.
Omowole also highlighted the need for financial literacy in real estate, especially among civil servants, noting that proper guidance could help individuals plan for housing and secure their future.
She assured the institution of the agency’s readiness to collaborate in educating the public and promoting professionalism in the sector.
The meeting ended with both parties expressing commitment to building a mutually beneficial relationship aimed at informing the public and strengthening trust in Nigeria’s real estate industry.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa
