Mr. Bamidele Onalaja is the CEO of RevolutionPlus Property Development Company Limited. It is a real estate company that has carved a niche among it’s contemporaries. The company recently opened a new office in the heart of Ikeja. That has further enhanced the effectiveness of the company in delivering affordable land and quality housing. Not only that. In the few years of the company’s existence, it has won several awards and international honours for it’s prompt delivery of land to its clients in a secure environment. The company started in 2017 with just 6 products but it has added more and more products since then. Presently, the company has more than 20 projects scattered across the country. Last week, City People ISAAC ABIMBADE, visited the MD at his new Ikeja office during which he opened up on the dynamic of his business and the challenges facing real estate business in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
Currently, you are one of the leading real estate players in Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos. What is the motivation and how many products do you have there?
In Ibeju Lekki as you said, we are one of the biggest players and the reason is not far-fetched. I always say Ibeju-Lekki is a new Lagos. You know, the Lekki Phase 1 now used to be Maroko. So now, we have Ibeju-Lekki, which is a new Lagos. The government’s plan and the massive investment taking place there is what informed our own migration; most of our projects are in Ibeju-Lekki. So right now, we have about 10-11 estates in Ibeju-Lekki and most of them are ready for habitation. Some people are already living in some of our estates.
Another reason why we moved to Ibeju-Lekki is affordability. RevolutionPlus is the friend of the masses. We do affordability a lot. In most of our Ibeju Lekki Property, you can get a product as low as 700,000 naira. Presently, we are doing Christmas and New Year’s promo; we give massive discounts on all our lands in Ibeju-Lekki. We also have property in Ibeju-Lekki that is up to 6 million naira with C of O.
Tell us more about the New Year and Christmas promo?
Christmas/New Year promo: we are giving 20 percent discount in all our estates in Abuja estate and 5 percent discount in all our estates in Lagos. Not only that, you will get a bag of rice with groundnut oil and chicken and you can get up to 5 chickens.
What qualifies me or any other person to these gifts?
Just pay N250,000 naira on a plot of land that is as high as 6 million. All we are saying is that, just pay N250,000 and you are qualified for a bag of rice and a big keg of oil and chicken. You can spread the remaining payment for up to 12 months.
Is it true that real estate is one of those businesses where you can invest your money and in 2 years you get double your investment?
Real estate is the only real investment and that’s why they call it real estate. Yes, it is true! The best way to save your money is to invest in real estate because if you invest in real estate today, it can never be the same amount tomorrow because the prices change. It goes up. Property of about 5 million today, in 10 years time can be 50 million naira. So, it goes up. And one of the best ways to save and having guarantee for future is through real estate.
In the last 2 years, what has changed about the company?
Well, (smiles) several things have changed about RevolutionPlus. Like I always say, we started this company with zero naira. And I keep saying it. When people read my interview with City People, they said it’s a lie; You haven’t told us the truth. They came to our office, and started screaming that it was a lie but they didn’t know where we are coming from.
We started this RevolutionPlus from a shop (my wife and I) in Opebi; very small shop that couldn’t sit two people. I always hang by the door. We started very small but because we have the grace of God working for us we succeeded. I don’t joke with grace of God. I am a giver. I know His grace is upon myself and my family. Several things have changed. We were in a 2 bedroom apartment at Oladosu Street here in Ikeja, before we relocated to this massive edifice. Several things have changed. We do bigger projects now and we are one of the top real estate players in Lagos, Ogun State and Abuja. We just started a new project in Abuja. So, God has been good. We have transformed.
I and my Publisher were in Ibeju-Lekki a few days ago and we noticed traffic is gradually pilling up on the axis if you were to advise the government on what to do in order to avert what we are currently witnessing in Apapa, what would you tell them?
As a matter of fact, I just came back from Apapa. I spent 2 hours in traffic. For Ibeju Lekki, one thing the government should quickly do is to create alternative route and also expand the existing one, which they are working on now.
Right now, the government is working on the road with Dangote. Dangote is a major player in that area. Beyond expansion, because in the developed world; the roads are so big but will still have alternative routes. There should be alternative routes, maybe after Eleko junction because most of the people that go to Ibeju Lekki turn from that junction. So, I am suggesting, there should be alternative route after Eleko before Epe with Fly-over Bridge that will take people to Ibeju-Lekki. Also, there should be rail. We have not taken the advantage of rail transportation in this country. In Dubai for example, most of their transportation are rail. I think as they are planning the new Lagos, there should be rail transport. Rail transport is key. We can also do underground rail. We can call investors to come and invest in it. Transportation is key. It must be done! It would be worse than Apapa if they fail to do all things I have mentioned. Thank God government is seeing it now and they have been doing something about it.
You are one of the real estate companies that fence and gate all your estates, what is the motive behind this?
RevolutionPlus Property is one of the few companies that takes security of the estates very serious. You know we buy some of the acquired lands from Omo Onile. So, fencing and gating means we have taken possession of the land and there’s no possession without a fence.
For you to take possession of the land you bought, so that there will be no intruder or problem for your clients, you must fence and gate. Another thing we do is security; all our estates have security and we pay them every month. Either people live or not live in the estate, we put security there.
If you were to advise the first time investor coming into real estate, where do you suggest they can invest their money?
Real estate is the answer. Royal Garden; it’s selling for 700,000. Royal Haven Garden is selling for 900,000 both in Ibeju-Lekki. You can also invest in Agbowa Ikorodu. We also have in Mowe for 700,000. We have one estate in Simawa, just behind Redemption Camp.
These are some of the places and they are affordable. I remember growing up, nobody gave me opportunity but that has changed now. We are giving opportunity to the young people who are just coming up. So, RevolutionPlus is the best place to invest. We are affordable, safe, secure and we allocate in time. You can get us on the following no: 09086787238 or 09086787259.
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