Property developers and builders in Edo State have applauded steps taken by the state government to rid the building and construction sector of criminally-minded persons who go about swindling stakeholders, by disguising as government officials.
A cross section of the stakeholders, in a chat with newsmen, in Benin, said steps taken by the government to rid the sector of impersonators will boost confidence of investors, who are spurred to invest in the state on the back of reforms spearheaded by Governor Godwin Obaseki in land administration and taxation.
A property developer, Maxwell Orobosa, said the swift response of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in moving against persons impersonating officials of the state government, is commendable.
He said now that developers have been informed of how to identify the fraudsters, “it will go a long way to improve how things are done, as some stakeholders have, in the past, fallen victims to the impostors, who extort money from them.”
Another stakeholder in the sector, Lewis Osasu, noted that information put out by the state government would guide developers and builders on how to avoid fraudsters and ensure they properly pay dues to the right government agency.
Recall that the state government cautioned land developers in the state over antics of individuals and groups who impersonate government officials to defraud land developers, noting that state officials do not demand and collect cash on construction sites.