Minister of housing and urban development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has hinted of a collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tackle fraud in the housing sector.
The minister warned real estate developers who engage in the construction of substandard projects and other fraudulent practices to desist from such behaviours or face the wrath of the law.
In a press statement signed by his media aide, Mark Chieshe, the minister reiterated the resolve of his ministry to ensure that developers construct houses in line with laid-down laws and regulations and prevent fraudulent practices in the sector.
At the recent commissioning of De Mayor’s Estate and the flag-off of Project Broadfield in Abuja, Dangiwa cautioned against the use of substandard building materials and unethical practices, warning that those who fail to build within stipulated guidelines will be prosecuted.
He also warned those who collect money from unsuspecting Nigerians only to turn around and deliver substandard projects to desist from the act, stating that the days of cutting corners are over.
“I want to warn all developers, and I advise them to see this as the final warning that they will get. The days of cutting corners in the housing sector are over.
If you think you can defraud Nigerians of their hard-earned money and get away with it in this present time, you are mistaken. For those who collect money from beneficiaries and, at the end of the day, fail to deliver and dupe ordinary Nigerians who simply want a decent place to call home, the law will soon catch up with you. Stop doing it because the days are over for such practices.
“When you go into a contract with a subscriber to build XYZ with certain features, and at the end of the day, you renege on that agreement, that amounts to a breach of contract. Some will collect the money and abscond with it; that’s extortion by false pretense and these are financial crimes. That’s why the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is now collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after such developers, ensure accountability in the sector, and protect the rights and investments of Nigerians,” he said.
Commenting on the strategy after the event, the minister said the ministry plans to establish a Housing Fraud Monitoring Platform to enable Nigerians to report cases of housing fraud by developers. He added that the proposed platform will provide a user-friendly online interface for Nigerians nationwide to report incidents of housing fraud.
