In 2017, when Lagos resident Rufai Ngozi (real name withheld) paid N2 million to PWAN Premium for a plot of land in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, the real estate company told her she had nothing to worry about as regards documentation.
Ngozi subscribed for the plot of land at Fountain Brooks Gardens, Ibeju-Lekki, through PWAN Premium Realtors and Concerns Ltd, a subsidiary of PWAN Group Ltd and a member of the Property World Africa Network (PWAN).
She told FIJ that at the time of purchase in September 2017, PWAN Premium Ltd assured her and her friend, who also bought a plot of land, that it was free from issues.
“Sometime this year, I reached out to them because my friend and I wanted to start developing the place. But they said they were working on a documentation with the government,” Ngozi disclosed.
The Lagos resident was disappointed because, eight years after buying the piece of land, her plans were on hold due to the pending documentation.
“Meanwhile, when they sold the land to us in 2017, they said it was free from whatever, and that everything had been sorted. Imagine, a land we bought in 2017, they are telling us in 2025 that they are still working out documentation,” Ngozi said.
Ngozi revealed that when she requested an alternative piece of land in one of the company’s numerous estates, PWAN Premium offered to allocate a piece valued at N2 million in 2025.
She declined the offer on the grounds that since the original purchased property would have appreciated over the years, the company should allocate land at the current market price, not the old one.
“They said the land they would show us would be worth the same amount we bought their land in 2017. And I said no. I can’t give you N2 million in 2017, and you are telling me you are giving me N2 million in 2025. If I had put that money in a bank, it would have generated interest,” she explained.
“At the point of purchase, they took us to the land. We saw the location. They also gave me a document confirming that I had made a payment and that they would allocate my plot when I paid the allocation fee.
“I was not ready at the time, but now I have gone back to them to say I am ready. And to know how much I am paying as the allocation fee so that I can start developing.
“They are not even saying anything about when the documents they are trying to get from the government would be finalised.”
In response to FIJ’s email sent on Tuesday, Sandra Uche from the customer service unit of PWAN Premium said the issue would be escalated to the appropriate team.
“Your email is well received and will be sent to the appropriate department,” reads the response.