A real estate expert, Mr Diamond Ilori, has voiced concerns about the real estate markets in Osun, Oyo and Ogun states, saying those tasked with overseeing the sector in these states are failing to perform their duty.

Ilori, in a statement, also urged those appointed by Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to administer the Ministry of Housing and its affiliated agencies to take proactive approach in addressing the skyrocketing prices of rents in the state.

According to the expert, issues of land grabbing, fraudulent transactions and unregulated development have also become rife in Osun.

His words: “As an expert with years of experience navigating the real estate landscape around the world, I can no longer stand by and watch as the governments of Osun, Oyo and Ogun states allow their real estate markets to crumble under the weight of negligence and inefficiency. It is time to call out the officials, the so-called regulatory bodies, and the policymakers who are merely occupying positions and wasting time, while the people continue to suffer.

“Osun State, like many others in the region, has been blessed with an abundance of resources and opportunities to transform its real estate sector. However, under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke, the state has failed to seize this opportunity, leaving its real estate market in a state of disarray.

“The Ministry of Housing and its affiliated agencies, tasked with regulating property transactions and protecting both tenants and homebuyers, have been nothing short of playing the old game, recycling the same old tricks in the book of the state. They have proven time and again they aren’t ready to be visionary, no effective strategy, and no commitment to solving the core issues plaguing the market.

“These bodies, appointed by the governor, have remained ineffective at best, shortsighted at worst. Rather than taking a proactive approach to address the skyrocketing prices of rents and real estate assets in the state, these appointees are merely collecting salaries and sitting in offices, detached from the reality on the ground.

“Governor Adeleke, while capable of driving the state’s agenda forward, has failed in one critical aspect—his inability to appoint people who can actually deliver results. Real estate regulation requires active, forward-thinking leadership, not complacent administrators who are merely biding their time in office.

“The housing bodies in Osun State need a shake-up. They must be led by individuals who are forward-thinking, have the expertise, and most importantly, have the drive to bring about real change.

“The issues of land grabs, fraudulent transactions, unregulated development, and unmanageable rent hikes are rampant in Osun State, and yet the government seems content to sit on its hands and watch as ordinary citizens are swindled and exploited. Governor Adeleke cannot do everything alone, but the people he appoints to key positions must demonstrate competence and urgency.

“If they fail to act, they are as culpable as the landlords who manipulate the system for personal gain. It’s time for a total overhaul of the Ministry of Housing and all other bodies involved in real estate in Osun State. The overarching issue in all three states—Osun, Oyo and Ogun—is a failure of leadership. The
regulatory bodies are not functioning, and the people appointed to lead them are either out of touch with the realities of the market or, worse, have no desire to address the issues at hand.

“Governors Adeleke, Makinde and Abiodun have a responsibility to ensure that the agencies under their jurisdiction are not just rubber-stamping transactions and collecting salaries. They must demand results.

The problems in the real estate sector—skyrocketing rents, fraudulent land transactions, unsustainable property developments—are not going to disappear on their own. These issues require immediate action, a vision for the future, and a government that is willing to hold regulatory bodies accountable.

“If the leaders of Osun, Oyo, and Ogun states do not take decisive action now, the consequences will be felt by generations to come. The government has the power to turn this situation around, but only if they stop pretending that everything is fine and start putting the right people in the right positions to tackle the problems head-on.

“The time for excuses is over. The people deserve better, and it is high time that the leadership of these states step up and deliver. The current system is failing, and the people are paying the price. Let us stop pretending, and let’s demand accountability now.”