THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The Lagos State Government has inaugurated a Diaspora Real Estate Desk to streamline property investments for Nigerians abroad. The initiative, unveiled recently, is a partnership between the Lagos Lands Bureau and the Lagos State Office of Diaspora Affairs, aiming to address common challenges diaspora investors face in navigating Nigeria’s real estate market.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu emphasized the program’s importance in fostering trust and transparency, noting that it aligns with his administration’s broader commitment to Nigerians overseas. The desk provides reliable access to information, professional guidance and support for property transactions, ensuring investors can engage confidently.
The service is the brainchild of Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, Head of the Lagos State Office of Diaspora Affairs, and will be administered in collaboration with Kamar Olowoshago, Permanent Secretary of the Lands Bureau. They highlighted that the initiative would serve as a central resource to combat fraudulent practices while connecting investors to government-regulated services.
The Diaspora Real Estate Desk offers assistance in property acquisition, land documentation and development. It also seeks to attract more diaspora funds into Lagos, a city experiencing rapid growth in its real estate sector. A report revealed that high-end areas of Lagos are becoming prime targets for diaspora investors, spurred by innovations and competitiveness in the local property market.
The Lagos officials urged Nigerians abroad to leverage this new platform for safe and legitimate transactions. The government hopes the desk will strengthen ties with the diaspora and unlock further economic benefits for the state.
Femi Awoniyi
