Monday, March 3, 2014 43
THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com
PROPERTY GUIDE
Estate agents move to tackle quackery in FCT, launches Abuja chapter Professional Practice From Terhemba Daka, Abuja N a bid to eliminate the menIsanitize ace of quacks in its fold and the estate agency practice, the Association of Estate Agents of Nigeria (AEAN) has formally launched its Abuja Chapter aimed at ensuring high standards among professional members in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Present during the launch were high profile members of the profession including the Chairman, Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON), William Odudu, Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, GTN Tabansi, Director of Compensation and Resettlement, Federal Capital Territory, Francis Okechukwu, among others. Speaking at the ceremony last week, President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr. Emeka Eleh decried the proliferation of quacks in the business of estate agency hence the NIESV midwifes the establishment of the body as an intervention by the government against the nefarious activities of fraudsters in the profession. Eleh, who stressed the need for the protection of consumers in all spheres, explained that the launch of the Abuja chapter will help to standardize the profession in the federal capital territory where the activities of quackery has continued to increase,
Eleh and also regulate activities of the sector especially, in the area of land administration. “The goal is to maintain a database of estate agents in Nigeria and ensure standard practice among members, eliminate the situation where everybody is an agent and promote customers’ services,” he said. Tabansi stressed the need for a regulated estate agency in the federal capital territory especially in the areas of selling and buying of land and landed property and letting of houses on behalf of clients. He said the business of estate agency, being an all comers affair, must be regulated to
protect citizens from illegal real estate practices as well as rights and obligations under tenancy agreements and the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. Earlier, AEAN Chairman, Mr. Chudi Ubosi explained that the formal launch of the body in the federal capital territory would be followed by trainings organized by the authorities for the different stages for the benefit of members and in line with global practice. “The task is huge but we will not be weighed down in our determination to regain the image of the profession which had been wholly unregulated,” the Chairman said. 383wds