A new audit by Oikus, a property data analytics firm, has uncovered over 59,000 duplicate listings across Nigeria’s real estate platforms, exposing serious data integrity flaws in the nation’s housing market.
According to the report, out of 100,000 property listings reviewed, nearly 60 per cent (59,119) were duplicates — mostly caused by agents reposting the same properties on multiple platforms or repeatedly relisting them to maintain visibility.
The audit, which applied a duplicate detection model focused on image similarity and metadata alignment, also found that over 9,000 listings lacked agent identification, making verification and user follow-up almost impossible.
The report further revealed several irregularities, including extreme price outliers and listings with unrealistic features such as 20-bedroom houses or inflated prices of up to ₦1 billion, suggesting either errors or deliberate manipulation to attract buyers’ attention.
“These findings underscore the urgent need for data verification and agent accountability in Africa’s property listing ecosystem,” Oikus said, stressing that unregulated listings distort market insights and weaken user trust.
The firm added that the study was part of its broader effort to improve transparency and credibility within Africa’s digital property market through AI-driven verification systems.
Experts have long raised concerns over the lack of reliable real estate data in Nigeria. The African Real Estate Society recently warned that fragmented and inaccurate property data continues to hinder housing finance, investor confidence, and sustainable development in the sector.
The President of the International Real Estate Society, Omokolade Akinsomi, said the country’s long-standing housing deficit — estimated between 17 and 28 million units — remains uncertain largely because of unreliable data.
He noted that without accurate housing information, it becomes difficult to design effective housing policies, provide financing, or attract investors.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of Purple Real Estate Income Plc, Olaide Agboola, emphasised that improved access to accurate data could boost investment, unlock homeownership opportunities, and enhance collaboration between government and private developers.
Nigeria’s housing deficit has worsened over the decades — from seven million units in 1991 to about 28 million in 2022 — a figure experts say could be reduced only through reliable data-driven reforms in the real estate sector.
