1st Choice Properties Launches West Africa’s First Anti-Fraud App, Moves to Protect Nigerians From ₦100bn Annual Losses

In a major bid to sanitize Nigeria’s high-risk property market, tech-driven firm 1st Choice Properties Limited has launched a landmark mobile application aimed at ending the reign of “land grabbers” and fraudulent agents.

Unveiled in Lagos, the “1st Choice Property” app arrives at a time when industry data suggests that nearly 65% of civil court cases in Nigeria are tied to land disputes. The firm’s Managing Director, Mr. Taiwo Joel Oladapo, alongside co-designer Mr. Gbenga Agbana, emphasized that the app was built to serve as a digital shield for millions of Nigerians who fall victim to real estate scams every year.

“The real estate sector has the potential to create five million jobs annually, but it is currently under siege by quacks,” Oladapo stated during the launch. “With over ₦100 billion being siphoned annually through fake deals, we have created a legal and technological framework where every property is verified, every agent is certified, and every transaction is transparent.”

One of the app’s most disruptive features is its strict regulation of agency practices. To eliminate “illegal middlemen” who often inflate costs, the platform mandates that all agents be registered with LASERA. Furthermore, the app imposes a 5% cap on commissions and agreement fees, a significant reduction from the 10-20% often demanded by traditional agents.

The developers also highlighted the plight of Nigerians in the diaspora, who contributed an estimated $20.9 billion to the economy in 2024 but often lose significant portions of their investments to family members or fraudulent speculators. The app allows users to verify if a property is under dispute or has been confiscated by agencies like the EFCC before a single kobo is exchanged.

Beyond security, the platform addresses the rising cost of living by introducing a four-year rent review policy for participating landlords. This move is designed to curb the “arbitrary and unpredictable” rent spikes that have characterized the Lagos and Abuja markets in recent years.

“Our goal is to make Nigeria a transparent destination for housing investment,” Oladapo added. “This app isn’t just a marketplace; it’s an end to the era of corruption in Nigerian real estate.”