The Lagos State Government has issued a strong warning to residents over the activities of fraudulent estate agents using social media platforms to promote fake listings for housing units.
The Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, raised the alarm following a recent case involving the Egan-Igando Mixed Housing Estate.
A video circulating online claimed that units in the newly commissioned estate were available for sale or rent, a claim the commissioner debunked.
“The advertised estate has been fully allocated, and its purported availability for sale or rent as stated in the online video is therefore a fraudulent act by the agent,” Akinderu-Fatai clarified.
He further stressed that the Lagos State Government does not authorize third-party agents to handle the sale, lease, or rental of housing units in any of its estates.
“The Estate department of the Lagos State Ministry of Housing is solely responsible for outright sale of housing units in Lagos State Housing Estates, while allocation for Mortgage or Rent-To-Own scheme is a responsibility of the Lagos State Mortgage Board,” the commissioner explained.
To protect themselves from scams, Akinderu-Fatai urged prospective buyers and members of the public to verify any claims about available properties directly with the appropriate authorities.
“Prospective home unit buyers and the public should conduct due diligence on any purported housing unit put up for sale by anyone by contacting the Estate Department of the Lagos State Ministry of Housing directly before making any decision to purchase,” he advised.
He also warned that the state government would not bear responsibility for financial losses resulting from dealings with unauthorized individuals.
“The Ministry of Housing and the Lagos State Government will not be liable for any loss incurred through patronage of fraudsters or impostors,” he stated, adding that, “any individual or organization caught engaging in the criminal act of deception shall be brought to book.”
In a related move to deter further fraudulent activities, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola, issued a directive to all allottees of the Egan-Igando estate.
“Allottees of Egan-Igando Mixed Housing Estate must take physical possession of their flats or risk revocation of unoccupied flats,” Toriola warned.
According to him, the step is necessary to prevent fake agents from exploiting the situation by convincing unsuspecting members of the public that the flats are still available.
