Nigerians are not allowed here..

Nigerians are not allowed here
By Allwell Okpi
July 18, 2009 01:59PM
The entrance to Eleganza Estate is a huge iron gate that stands about five metres tall under a concrete arch. A concrete fence surrounds the estate. While residents show their passes at the gate, visitors have to fill a form at the security post which is manned by both uniformed private security agents and armed soldiers.

With uninterrupted power and water supply, marble floors, central air-conditioning, sauna, lush gardens, billiard room, tennis court, swimming pools and lots more, Eleganza Estate is fully serviced luxury living.

For expats only

In a newspaper published on June 29, 2009, the estate, located about one kilometre from Chevron, was advertised for expatriates. The advert read, ‘Accommodation for expatriates only'.

When contacted, Sophia Okoya, director, RAO Investment Property Company Ltd, the firm that manages the estate, said they do not intend to discriminate against Nigerians.

"That advert that you saw is a mistake," she said. "We are not discriminating against Nigerians. The problem is that when Nigerians hear the price, they will say they would rather go and build their own houses with the money. And you know, when these expatriates come, they like to live in a place that is akin to the lifestyle they left behind in their country. They love to live in a nice and secured environment."

Mrs. Okoya listed the rent for the different range of apartments in the estate. A one-bedroom apartment goes for N1.8 million per annum with N800,000 service charge, a three-bedroom flat goes for N3.5 million per annum with a N2 million service charge, while the four-bedroom duplex goes for N4.5 million per annum with a N2 million service charge.

When asked if Nigerians who can afford it would be considered, Mrs. Okoya said there is another estate that has been provided for Nigerians.

"We have another estate opposite (the) VGC," she said. "We are renting that one to Nigerians, and it's also very nice. If you have anyone who is interested, a three-bedroom flat in that one is N2.5 million."

While leading an inspection of one of the three-bedroom flats, an employee confirmed that all the tenants of the estate are expatriates. She said the advert is meant to get tenants to fill some of the apartments, which became vacant after the previous occupants left.

Reactions

Segun Olutade, Executive Director, Shelter Watch, a non-governmental organisation working in the area of affordable shelter and real estate development, condemned the advert.

"It's an insult," he said. "Do they mean Nigerians cannot live there? How can they discriminate against us in our own country? The problem is that our government will not do anything about it; their government abroad will not allow it. If we don't stop this, it will become a trend; before you know it other landlords will start renting their houses to only expatriates. I don't think it is right. In fact, this is apartheid."

According to Adebowale Adegoke, a journalist, renting accommodation to expatriates only is not new.

"It's really a shame," he said. "With this kind of thing happening, what are we rebranding? Well I'm not surprised, the estate is owned by Rasaq Okoya. I know when they built that estate about eight years ago, they were renting it for about $50,000. It is not only this one, most of the houses on Banana Island are dollarized."

In spite of the condemnation of the advert, William Odudu, former president of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers and also former president of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria thinks preferential renting is not wrong.

"I don't see anything wrong in someone building for a particular set of people whether expatriates only or Nigerians only," he said. "I guess they will take Nigerians who can live up to the standard of the estate."

Legality

Rasaq Akande, a lawyer, said the advert was discriminatory.

"I object to the use of the word ‘expatriates'," he said. "It is discriminatory. It is sad that we can read this in a Nigerian newspaper. I think advertising standards will have something to say about this. If it was in Britain, for example, there would have been an uproar.

"Although, the land law is not clear on this, the constitution prohibits all forms of discrimination. It's not very likely that anybody will sue them for this, but if they refuse to rent the apartment to any Nigerian who can afford it, I think the person can go to court and enforce his right."