Transparency Gap In Real Estate Market Drives Demand For New Service Models—Operator

Persistent concerns over opaque transactions, weak regulation, and unprofessional practices in Nigeria’s real estate sector are fueling a shift toward more structured and client-focused service delivery, industry observers say.

The founder and chief executive officer of an emerging real estate firm known as the Property Xtra Integrated Services, Kabir Bello, in a media parley, in Abuja, argued that despite the sector’s rapid growth, prospective property owners and investors continue to grapple with unclear documentation processes, inflated pricing, and poor communication from agents.

The CEO said it is against this backdrop that his firm is positioning itself around transparency and advisory-driven services, reflecting a broader attempt within the industry to rebuild credibility.

While calling on other industry players to put more efforts in addressing decay in the built environment, the marketing professional revealed that his organisation is putting up strong measures that seeks to address systemic gaps by emphasizing clearer transaction processes and sustained client engagement rather than one-off deals.

Bello who noted that the traditional real estate model in Nigeria has often been dominated by informal practices, leaving many buyers vulnerable to misinformation and, in some cases, fraud, also urged private and public industry players to create standardized procedures that can help in enhancing property acquisition, particularly for first-time buyers and diaspora investors.

The real estate administrator argued that improving transparency is not just a competitive advantage but a necessity for unlocking the sector’s full economic potential. He explained that with Nigeria facing a significant housing deficit, restoring investor confidence should be seen as critical to attracting both local and foreign capital.

“Operators adopting client-centric models say they are responding to this need by prioritizing informed decision-making, clearer communication, and post-transaction support—areas long identified as weak points in the market”.

“While companies like Property Xtra are still a small part of the broader ecosystem, their approach signals a gradual shift toward professionalism in an industry often criticized for its lack of structure”, he said.

The expert in company of other notable real estate personalities further called on stakeholders to maintain a sustained reform that is backed by stronger regulation and enforcement in order to consolidate on gains and ensure that transparency becomes the norm rather than the exception in Nigeria’s real estate landscape.