The Lagos State Government has cautioned residents to be wary of fake estate agents promoting non-existent housing units for sale or rent on social media platforms.
The warning comes amid reports of fraudulent advertisements circulating online, particularly videos falsely claiming that housing units in the newly launched Egan-Igando Mixed Housing Estate are up for sale.
Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, issued the warning in a public statement, describing the viral video as a scam designed to deceive innocent citizens.
According to Akinderu-Fatai, “The advertised estate has been fully allocated, and its purported availability for sale or rent as stated in the online video is therefore a fraudulent act by the agent.”
He emphasized that the Lagos State Government does not engage any external agent to lease, rent, or sell government-owned housing units. He further explained that all transactions regarding the outright sale of homes in government estates are handled only by the Estate Department of the Ministry of Housing.
“For the mortgage or rent-to-own housing schemes,” he said, “allocation is the responsibility of the Lagos State Mortgage Board. So, any individual claiming to sell or rent government flats on social media is not authorised and should be treated with suspicion.”
Akinderu-Fatai advised members of the public to verify any housing offer by contacting the Lagos State Ministry of Housing directly before making any payments.
“People must carry out due diligence before committing money,” he said. “The Ministry of Housing and the Lagos State Government will not be liable for any financial loss caused by dealings with fraudsters or impersonators.”
He added that anyone found guilty of marketing government properties illegally would face legal consequences.
The Lagos State Government has been battling a rise in online property scams, where swindlers use photos and videos of newly built or well-known estates to trick unsuspecting people into paying deposits for flats that are not available.
The Egan-Igando Mixed Housing Estate, which is the latest project targeted by these scammers, was commissioned recently and has already been fully allocated to successful applicants.
To prevent further fraud, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Abdulhafis Toriola, has ordered all allottees of the estate to move into their flats immediately. He warned that any unoccupied flat may be revoked.
“We are asking all allottees to take physical possession of their allocated flats without delay,” Toriola said. “Vacant units give the impression that the estate is still unallocated, and that creates room for fraudulent agents to exploit people.”
He stressed that the state government is serious about protecting its citizens from housing fraud and maintaining transparency in its housing schemes.
Some residents who spoke with journalists welcomed the government’s position. A civil servant, Tunde Ajayi, said, “It’s good they are speaking out early. Many people have fallen victim to fake housing agents on Instagram and WhatsApp. Government must continue to educate the public.”
Another Lagos resident, Chioma Ibekwe, added, “I once paid a deposit for a flat that never existed. I didn’t know better. These announcements help others avoid the same mistake.”
Meanwhile, experts in the housing sector have called on the government to work with social media platforms to track and report suspicious estate listings. They believe more digital monitoring and public awareness campaigns will go a long way in curbing the menace.
The Lagos State Government has launched several housing projects in recent years, aimed at tackling the housing deficit in the state. However, the rise in housing scams now threatens to erode public trust in such initiatives if not properly addressed.
