The managing director of Powell Homes and Shelters Ltd, Arc Chibuikem Onyekachi, has stated that his company’s primary goal is to provide affordable housing for residents of Enugu and other parts of Nigeria.
Chibuikem who stated this during a breakfast meeting with realtors from Enugu and the South East on Friday, emphasized that real estate does not have to be expensive to be considered genuine.
“When it comes to real estate, I believe that it should not be expensive to be regarded as real estate. Instead of crowding in the city center, we can provide affordable housing on the outskirts.
“In Dubai, for example, people live well in areas outside the main city. There’s no reason for us to all cluster in the city center, putting pressure on limited infrastructure when we could develop more affordable areas.
“The only difference is that we may have to commute from these locations to our destinations. Our mission is to make housing affordable for the people,” he said.
Regarding the presence of unqualified individuals in the real estate industry, Chibuikem, who also serves as the Publicity and Organizing Secretary of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), commended the Enugu State government, led by Peter Mbah, for enacting the anti-land racketeering law.
“Every profession has its share of unqualified individuals and those who adhere to professional ethics. This is why we organized this event, bringing together realtors and aspiring realtors to share knowledge.
“Our goal is to ensure that everyone is informed about the dos and don’ts because when someone lacks proper information, we cannot blame them for making mistakes. Some individuals sell fraudulent land simply because they are uninformed.
“In Enugu, we are making progress thanks to the current government and the recent land-grabbing law, which protects investors’ investments. This is a positive step forward.
“It instills confidence in investors. When they know they have land titles recognized by the government, they will not have to worry about losing their investment.”
The traditional ruler of the Amankanu Community in Nkanu East Local Government Area, Igwe Bennett Ikenna, praised Powell Homes and Shelters for their compassionate and effective approach to real estate.
However, he urged other real estate firms to learn from Powell Homes by conducting thorough due diligence before entering any community for business.
“I advise all real estate developers to consult the traditional ruler of the community from which they want to purchase land. The ruler is knowledgeable about the state of the land in question. When this is done, potential problems can be avoided.
“Do not just trust anyone who claims to have land. The economy is challenging, and some individuals may resort to unscrupulous methods to make money. Instead, youths should seek meaningful ways to contribute to their lives rather than waiting to be exploited.”
