BY MICHAEL IKEOGWU /WARRI
THE Chairman, Delta State Chapter of the Estate Agents of Nigeria, Comrade Oke Oyibo has commended the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for initiating the construction of 300 housing units across the state, describing it as a step towards addressing the housing deficit in the state.
He also urged the Delta State House of Assembly to urgently take decisive steps towards addressing the issue of arbitrary increase in house rent by landlords in the state as it was becoming unbearable for prospective tenants on prospective tenants.
Comrade Oyibo spoke during the association’s first meeting of the year 2025 held in Warri, Delta State.
He argued that while economic hardship has contributed to the hike, some landlords and agents have exploited the situation, leading to unreasonable rent increments.
“The governor’s effort to provide affordable housing will go a long way in reducing the shortage of housing in Delta State,” Oyibo stated.
The Chairman, who spoke extensively on their vision for the year, ongoing challenges in the industry and the need for government intervention to regulate housing rent, stressed that there was urgent need for government at all levels to intervene serious in housing needs.
He revealed plans to organize symposiums and training sessions, including a second batch of training for estate agents set to begin in March 2025, and a valuation training scheduled for the second quarter of the year.
He praised the Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Godknows Agele, for his commitment to combating real estate fraud and promoting efficiency in the sector. Oyibo decried the prevalence of fraudulent practices among some estate agents and called for stringent measures to restore public trust in the profession.
“We are here to change the narratives of ugly trends in the real estate sector, ensuring transparency and professionalism. “
In his remarks, Sir Francis Yekovie Esq. emphasized the critical role of estate agents in facilitating successful property transactions. “Agents are the backbone of real estate. They investigate the existence of properties and connect buyers with genuine sellers, making them indispensable to the process,” Yekovie said.
The estate agents reiterated their readiness to collaborate with the government and stakeholders to address challenges in the housing sector.
