By Maduka Nweke
The Estate Rent and Commission Agents Association of Nigeria (ERCAAN) has said the auction of 753 properties seized from ex-CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, could significantly ease the country’s housing deficit, if managed with transparency and a clear focus on affordability.
To this end, the association has suggested that the homes be sold to Nigerians at subsidised rates to those who truly need them.
The National President of the association, Godwin Alenkhe, made this known at the end of the inaugural meeting of the newly elected executives of the association in Lagos, recently. He advised the government to sell the houses to interested Nigerians below the market value as a short-term solution to the serious issues of housing shortfall in the country. He said that giving the seized properties out at market subsidized rates will enable the average Nigerian to have access to the seized luxury apartments. “It will also do much in reducing the housing deficit in the country. Aside from this one, there are a lot of unoccupied estates dotting the Nigerian landscape that need to be acted on so it will become a rule that since houses are built to be inhabited, anyone who builds without letting it out to the public should be asked why,” he said.
The ERCAAN President suggested that members of credible real estate associations such as NIESV, ERCAAN and AEAN should be appointed as lead agents for prospective sales. Alenkhe attributed the abnormal increase on estate agency charges (fees) to the activities of unregistered rent agents and greedy landlords. He said such activities have imposed hardship on the people, especially in Lagos. He said it is the position of ERCAAN that the government should set up monitoring desks in the zones and a special mobile task force to practically put the menace on check.
Alenkhe noted that the Association from inception has been the inspiration and pathway for the real estate profession and establishment in Nigeria. “We feel the pains of those seeking accommodation because according to Maslow Theory, shelter ranks among the highest needs of human beings, I don’t know how one will feel after laboring throughout the day, at night he will not be able to settle his brains and nerves because he/she lacks accommodation?
“Our founding fathers had the true vision of correcting the decay and maladies confronting the real estate enterprise with our age-long symbol crafted in honesty. However, our crisis and final unification have revealed the faces of the true lovers of ERCAAN and also our enemies. Therefore from a new beginning, we will start laying the lasting foundation to rebuild the Association,” he stated.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman ERCAAN Caretaker Committee (ENCC), Mr. Lanre Obasola Afolayan earlier noted that ENCC was able to successfully conduct the dissolution of the Ogun State chapter’s executives and inaugurated a Caretaker Committee. “This is a move that has created a conducive atmosphere for the state election as arranged, coming up very soon.
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