The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has distanced itself from the activities of some land-grabbing syndicates in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The association maintained that the majority of the land grabbers are not members of REDAN “because they do not want to be subjected to the code of membership of the association.”
Speaking at a press conference Friday in Abuja, the President of REDAN, Aliyu Wammako, said the clarification became necessary following the recent ugly incident where seven suspects were arrested within Guzape II, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) over illegal development and land racketeering.
“It will interest our audience to know that the majority of the land grabbers are not members of REDAN. This is because they do not want to be subjected to the Code of Membership of REDAN.
“As a self-regulatory organization for the real estate and umbrella body of the Organized Real Estate Firms in the business of housing and estate development nationwide, we hereby state emphatically and categorically too that we detest such anomalies.
“Anyone who is interested in getting land should procure it genuinely by approaching the government or the owners and not encroach on land which is not legally acquired.
“We have often asserted that we have zero tolerance for any member who is involved in any form of unethical dealings in the business of housing development.
“As such, we use this medium to call on our members, in particular, to abide by any guidelines as stipulated by any of the land and housing-related departments of the FCTA,” he said.