Jos city, the capital of Plateau State located in the North Central region of Nigeria, is quickly becoming a destination of choice for property investment. Daily Trust looks at the five most lucrative locations for real estate investment.
The city’s alluring natural features and its temperate weather conditions are main attractions for tourists, retirees—especially those retiring from the military and other establishments—to build homes and even commercial property like hotels.
With its clement weather, undulating, rocky landscape and flowery scenery; waterfalls, dams and a still booming tin-mining activities, demand for accommodation is still on the high in the city.
Rayfield: Jos’s epitome of affluence
Since the situation of the government house and other vital institutions and business organisations in Rayfield, Jos South Local Government Area of the state, the locality has become the symbol of affluence and authority in the city.
It serves as a residential district for the privileged and property in the area is the most expensive in the city. However, it also offers premium recreation and leisure for all classes of citizens as it can boast of the Rayfield Resort and other plush hotels that provide relaxation and leisure, and so many big functions from across the state and the country at large are carried out in the many hotels which abound in Rayfield.
There is also the Golf Club where big men and other public figures come from all over the city to play and interact among themselves. Besides, the Jos Business School, NTA TV College, and Plateau Radio and Television (PRTV) are all situated in Rayfield. Many wealthy and government functionaries, captains of industries, big business owners, among others, mostly reside in Rayfield.
Property in the district is mostly high-end and Daily Trust learnt it is the dream of every estate agent to get a deal in the area as they can make more commission on one house sold or rent than on several others in the other areas in Jos.
Millionaires’ Quarters: Jos’s safe enclave
Millionaires Quarters is located in Jos North Local Government Area and it appears it has been inoculated against the series of crises that had rocked the city in the past decades. The area is unique for its friendliness and accommodating nature as it is home to all and sundry irrespective of ethnicity and religion. This is unlike other parts of Jos where people reside according to ethno-religious divisions because of previous crises.
Millionaire Quarters also has good hotels, houses, offices of some NGOs, Plateau Peace Building Agency, choice secondary/primary schools, and prominent people like former Minister of FCT and Plateau governorship candidate under PDP, General Jeremiah Useni, reside there.
A resident of the area, Simon Dauda, said Millionaires Quarters is known to be the first exclusive district in Jos where the wealthy resided. He said its closeness to Jos city centre makes it viable for real estate business.
He said many travellers, especially those heading to far North, prefer to lodge in the area whenever night catches up with them, and don’t wish to continue on night journeys.
Rantiya: An up-and-coming suburb
Rantiya is located in Jos South LGA and it is fast becoming lucrative for property investment due to its unique location. Nestling beside the State and Federal Low Cost, and the Jos Wildlife Park, the area can be described as an up-and-coming suburb because it has a lot of space for fresh developments.
It is also close to the headquarters of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Plateau State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and provides the best choice for some staff to own homes there.
A resident of the area, Comrade Bentse Chun, said the area in recent times has experienced an influx of people coming to build there since most places in the city are fully built up and congested.
But he said the district is a kind of cul-de-sac as it is surrounded by rocks at the back after one comes in through Low Cost Junction.
Chun said there is power stability, water, good schools and good security in the area and many properties are springing up, as well as daily acquisition of land for development.
Kwang: An offshoot of Rayfield
Kwang is another area that is fast becoming an ideal location for property investment in Jos. Firstly, its proximity to Rayfield and the high quality of infrastructure there make it an attractive proposition to investors.
Daily Trust learnt many property developers and rich people are now rushing to Kwang as it is becoming a fast-developing area.
A resident of the area who is also a property owner, Chris Yunana, said besides its closeness to Rayfield, it is among the places with government layout and with a good road network.
He said the area is also close to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), and that many of their doctors and staff are constantly seeking and occupying accommodation there, as well as people working in Rayfield who can’t get accommodation there because of its competitiveness.
Yunana said there is also stable power supply as well as good security despite the volatility of Jos.
Gura Topp: Potential for high return on investment
Gura Topp is a place in Jos where serene landscapes intermingle with beautiful residential buildings. It has thriving medium and small-scale businesses.
There are also good schools there, steady light, water and security. It also has good road networks that easily connect to other areas as well as the city centre.
Abba Ahmadu Ebeh, a building engineer, said among all the places in Jos, he sees Gura Topp as one of the best locations for estate development. He said there are only a few estates in Jos, and any investor that can consider developing estates of up to 15-20 housing units or even less, can make high returns on their investment in a matter of a few years.
Ebeh said Jos remains one of the most conducive cities in the country and has enormous potential for property business.
The builder who owns a residential property in Jos said Jos/Plateau people are receptive, friendly and like visitors, adding that many properties in Jos belong to people from other states, including retired civil servants and military personnel who eventually relocate to Jos to settle after retirement.
He said Jos has the best climatic conditions in Nigeria, thereby attracting all manners of people, including foreigners to the city. “And that is the reason for the rise from time immemorial of the hospitality business in the city,” he added.
He said Jos is also strategic in the sense that it is the city linking many states in the southern part of the country as well as Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to the north-eastern region, and that anyone journeying from the South or Abuja to the North East or vice versa will pass through Jos.
