By Matilda Ikediobi

Property firm, First Choice Nigeria Limited, has urged government to strengthen the regulation of property agents in the country, saying such regulation would help curb the obsession with quick profits in the sector.

The organisation’s Managing Director, Mr Taiwo Oladapo, said government should ensure that all agents were certified by competent bodies to enable them acquire the ethical knowledge needed to guide their practice.

Oladapo spoke in Lagos at the launch of the company’s real estate anti-corruption mobile application, described as Nigeria’s first of its kind.

According to him, there should be a law guiding individuals who intend to enter the business, adding that government must clamp down on unregistered and fraudulent operators.

He said: “I think government has a lot of work to do. As a company, we are going to ensure that every landlord on our platform has proper documentation and signs the required agreements. We believe you cannot just wake up in the morning and increase rent by 200 per cent.

“When rent is being increased, I believe it should not be more than 10 per cent. We are not just going to onboard landlords from every city without due consideration. If you are a landlord and you want to work with us, you must first consider Nigerians.

“When it comes to housing regulation, it is not just about making profit. You have to consider everyone renting your property. You cannot simply wake up and increase rent arbitrarily.”

On the newly launched app, he said: “The app is designed to be very easy to use. Even a 70-year-old can operate it. All you need to do is go to your App Store or Play Store, type First Choice Property, and the app will appear. You download it, create an account, and then search for the property of your choice, your preferred location and price range.

“We created this platform to eliminate shady agencies and unprofessional practices. We are also working with trusted companies in every state. Together, we have agreed on operational rules and standards, including state-specific regulations, government-approved commissions, and legal fees.

“We are not operating outside government laws. Any agency that wants to work with us is subject to our approval and must align with our standards. The goal is to work for the benefit of Nigeria, not just individual profit.”

Meanwhile, Mr Agbana Olugbenga also said First Choice was registered with government bodies overseeing real estate in the country.

Olugbenga said: “We are registered with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, LASERA, which is the body controlling all the agents in Lagos State. We have designed the app in such a way that customers can easily use it. Representatives from our end will attend to you without you having to pay anything.”