By HABEEBAT AJAYI
The estate surveyors and valuers under the aegis of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Ogun state chapter have vowed to flush out fraudsters and quacks dealing in lands and property fraud in the state.
Speaking at inauguration of newly-elected Executive Council of the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Ogun state branch in Abeokuta, Akinwale Ojo, Chairman of the branch, said that the Institution would work closely with State Government to stop fraud and quackery in estate development and management, mortgage negotiations, sales of lands and property, among others.
The declaration was made as a result of the increasing rate of lands and property scams in the nation’s real estate market space, especially in Ogun state with a huge influx of people and corporate entities that are seeking accommodations at different locations with the state.
While warning would-be property and lands owners to always patronise professionals for lands and property acquisitions, Ojo, who is also the General Manager of Ogun State Housing Corporation, said that estate surveyors and valuers in the state would also work with allied professionals in order to perfectly eliminate sharp practices in the real estate.
He said, “In the 70s when we were growing up, you dared not do things anyhow and we want to believe that with the efforts of the allied professionals in the building environment and Government, we will get it right again.
“People are just selling lands and property without being professionals, without right skills and education that are required. We are going to work with the people that are concerned to ensure that in this nation, in this state, things are done properly.
“People are being defrauded of their resources on daily basis, people are falling victims of fraudsters and I want to assure you that we will work against that and put smiles on the faces of the people in Ogun state and the nation at large, and we will be working very closely with our national body and of course, uphold all the dictates of our laws.”
In addition, a UK-Chartered Surveyor and Mortgage Advisor, Akinwale Ojo took a mantle of leadership from Estate Surveyor and Valuer, Salmon Shobanke, having been elected Chairman of Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Ogun state branch for a two-year tenure in the first instance.
Other Estate Surveyors and Valuers elected as members of the State Executive Council include, Adeolu Adejinmi, Vice-Chairman; Adebola Folaji, General Secretary; Idowu Surajudeen, Treasurer.; Abdul Emmanuel, Public Relations Officer; Moshood Olude, Financial Secretary; Akingbade Olabode, Assistant-Secretary; Salmon Shobanke, Ex-Officio I and Olaseni Adetokunboh, Ex-officio II.
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