Business
Consultant Foresees Property Market Growth In 2011
A property consultant, Mr Chima Ogbuehi, on Monday said that property market would improve significantly in 2011 following the efforts being put in place by the stakeholders.
He told newsmen on Monday that World Bank statistics showed that there would be a steady and stable increase in the Nigerian economy.
Ogbuehi, Managing Partner, F & L Integrated Service, a property consulting firm, said “This in turn will have a positive effect on the property market transaction.”
“We witnessed a steady increase in property development in 2010, but low transactions due to low cash circulation. Indications in 2011 show a steady increase in the property transaction,” he said.
Ogbuehi said that already lease terms were gradually changing to suit prospective tenant’s budgets, particularly on the Victoria Island and Lekki area.
“Landlords and property companies are gradually yielding to the demands of prospective tenants to reduce lease price and year.
“Before the end of 2011, houses might be leased for as low as 6 months, as it is being practised abroad. This will make the market more viable and accessible,” he said.
Ogbuehi cited as example, the price variation in the property market with 1004 Housing Estate in Victoria Island, which he said, was sold to UAC Property.
“Because of low cash flow in 2011 and prospective tenants demand for change, a three-bedroom apartment in 1004 Estate leased for N3 million in 2010 now attracts N2.5 million.
“Also, a three-bedroom flat sold for N45 million in 2010 is now being sold for N40 million while some private owners now agreed to one-year lease term,” he said.
According to him, if the new trend continues, it will improve the nation’s economy.
Business
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Business
BVN Enrolments Rise 6% To 67.8m In 2025 — NIBSS
The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has said that Bank Verification Number (BVN) enrolments rose by 6.8 per cent year-on-year to 67.8 million as at December 2025, up from 63.5 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.
In a statement published on its website, NIBSS attributed the growth to stronger policy enforcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the expansion of diaspora enrolment initiatives.
NIBSS noted that the expansion reinforces the BVN system’s central role in Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive and digital identity framework.
Another major driver, the statement said, was the rollout of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative, which allows Nigerians in the diaspora to obtain a BVN remotely without physical presence in the country.
A five-year analysis by NIBSS showed consistent growth in BVN enrolments, rising from 51.9 million in 2021 to 56.0 million in 2022, 60.1 million in 2023, 63.5 million in 2024 and 67.8 million by December 2025. The steady increase reflects stronger compliance with biometric identity requirements and improved coverage of the national banking identity system.
However, NIBSS noted that BVN enrolments still lag the total number of active bank accounts, which exceeded 320 million as of March 2025.
The gap, it explained, is largely due to multiple bank accounts linked to single BVNs, as well as customers yet to complete enrolment, despite the progress recorded.
