The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed off Paradise Estate in the Life Camp Extension area of Abuja over alleged fraud and failure to deliver housing units to subscribers despite full payment.
The enforcement action, carried out on Thursday, affected the estate’s sites in Life Camp and Dawaki, following a series of complaints from homebuyers who claimed they had paid for properties but were yet to take possession after more than three years.
According to the Commission, the move became necessary after the developer, Paradise Estate Ltd., repeatedly failed to comply with regulatory directives issued after investigations into the complaints.
Speaking during the exercise, Marvin Nadah, FCCPC Deputy Director, Surveillance and Investigation Department, said the Commission had been inundated with complaints from consumers in the real estate sector, with several petitions specifically against the estate.
He explained that the complaints had undergone a redress process, after which the Commission issued a compliance notice directing the company to hand over the properties already paid for by buyers.“These consumers made full payments for these properties for over three years without getting value or possession,” Nadah said.
He added that the developer was served the compliance notice on February 24 and given seven days to act but failed to comply, prompting enforcement under Section 150 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.“One of the consequences of failure to comply is sealing of the premises, and that is the action we have taken,” he stated.
Nadah noted that the Commission was confident that its actions were lawful and in line with its mandate to protect consumers from exploitation and unfair business practices.He, however, declined to speculate on possible sanctions if the company is found guilty, stating that the Commission would follow due process before determining further actions.
The FCCPC also used the opportunity to urge consumers to remain vigilant when engaging in property transactions, advising them to verify claims made by developers before making payments.“The government cannot sit by and watch when consumers are exploited or misled. Consumers must also be alert and ensure they are fully informed before entering into transactions,” Nadah said.
He further disclosed that Paradise Estate is not the only developer under scrutiny, revealing that the Commission is currently handling numerous complaints within the real estate sector and has intensified monitoring of industry practices.
The sealing of the estate underscores growing regulatory attention on Nigeria’s real estate sector, amid rising concerns over delayed project delivery, alleged fraud, and consumer rights violations.
