Lagos flags off licensing of estate agents, Warns Unregistered Agents, to hunt down quacks & swindlers

By Olumide T. Agunbiade and Victor Adewunmi

L-R: CEO, MAO Intl Agency, Eng. Mao Odofin receiving
LASRETRAD certificate from ERCAAN Lagos State
Chairman, Hon. Godwin Alenkhe (EFA)

The Lagos State Real Estate Transaction Department (LASRETRAD) has certified Godan Properties, MAO Int’l Agency, Babatunde Shorinola & Sons and Sanmi Jide Properties as real estate agents in Lagos State. 

The Certificates which were unveiled by the Lagos State executives of the Estate Rent and Commission Agents Association of Nigeria (ERCAAN) during an election into executive seats of the Mainland zone recently is seen as part of efforts by LASRETRAD to sanitize the real estate sector of the state.

All the certificated agents are members of the Estate Rent and Commission Agents Association of Nigeria (ERCAAN). 

Godan Properties which is owned by the Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of the association, Hon. Godwin Alenkhe (EFA) has been issued with Identification Number (EBIN 12), Mao Int’l Agency (EBIN 15), Sanmi Jide Properties (EBIN 16) and Babatunde Shorinola & Sons (EBIN 8).

Prior to the issuance of the certificates, Assistant General Manager and Head, Control Monitoring and Management of LASRETRAD, Mrs. Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi while speaking at an event organized by the Lagos State executive arm ERCAAN’s to mark their first year in office and the unveiling of their task force (ERCAAN Marshals) in June, disclosed the reason for the certification of agents thus:

“High property demand in the state has made the sector susceptible to abuse by individuals who engage in a number of illegal practices to the detriment of the citizens.

Ministries and Agencies in Lagos have already been issued directives not to patronize unregistered agents and we would begin enforcing the laws with special help from enforcement officers drafted to our agency”

While impressed with the achievements and how well organized ERCAAN has become, she urged all estate agents to fast-track their registration with the state government.

Stressing that the Lagos State Task Force in partnership with ERCAAN task force will soon start operation to get rid of unregistered and fake Estate Agents in Lagos State, she pointed out that the department has made it a point of duty to inform all stake holders before this raiding of quacks and unregistered agents commences.

Mrs. Patunola-Ajayi also announced that Lagos State Government wishes to bring foreign investors to Lagos in the business of Real Estate and gave the assurance that the state government will continue to partner with ERCAAN. 

The process of identifying persons eligible to be licensed as estate agents involves building a database that will metamorphose into a unique Estate Agent Identification Number (EAIN) in the State. The Database Management will ultimately lead to issuance of licenses to practice as Estate Agents in the State through an automation process.

A compendium of rules and regulations have been compiled to guide the practice of Real Estate in Lagos State, while preliminary information about practicing estate agents, licensees and other relevant organizations can be checked on the Department web portal that will be launch soon.  

The Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of Estate Rent and Commissions Agents Association of Nigeria (ERCAAN), Hon. Godwin Alenkhe (EFA) while reacting to the certification said the association has been a major advocate for regulation of the real estate profession in Lagos State even as the association had obtained the highest number of forms.

He further explained that their support for the state’s government effort to sanitize the real estate sector is clearly exemplified in the setting up a taskforce by the association, whose major task is to identify fake real estate agents, assist the state government and enforce standards.

“For us discipline must first start within and our members must attain the highest level of discipline before the general public. The marshals are to coordinate and pronounce our code of conduct as contained in the constitution of the association at all times”.

According to Alenkhe, ERCAAN members across the state have commenced registration in 42 zones in 52 Local Council Development Area and are already obtaining LASRETRAD registration forms.