A property technology company, Propzora, has launched a digital platform designed to curb fraud and improve transparency in Nigeria’s real estate transactions.

The platform combines property listings, property and document verification, Know Your Customer (KYC) checks and escrow-based transaction protection, which holds funds until agreed conditions for release are met.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, James Moti, said the platform was designed to make property transactions more structured and accountable, giving buyers, sellers and agents a clearer process to follow.

He said buyers often struggle to verify property documents and ownership claims or determine when it is safe to release funds, exposing them to fraud and financial losses.

“By combining several important transaction functions in one digital environment, Propzora aims to reduce the uncertainty that can make people hesitant to engage in property transactions,” he said.

Moti said the platform could improve accountability by providing clearer records of agreements and payments while reducing misunderstandings among buyers, sellers and agents.

He, however, noted that its impact would depend on adoption, the quality of verification, collaboration with professionals and institutions, and its performance in real transactions.

According to him, Nigeria’s real estate transactions have traditionally relied on personal relationships, physical documentation and intermediaries, with processes varying from one transaction to another. Online fraud, limited trust in digital platforms, inconsistent access to reliable records and digital literacy also pose challenges.

“Our approach is to address a practical problem rather than introduce technology for its own sake. We also recognise that trust cannot be created by technology alone. The platform must be understandable, accessible and transparent about what it can and cannot verify,” he said.

Moti said wider adoption over the next five years could make digital transaction management more familiar within Nigeria’s real estate ecosystem, providing buyers with greater visibility into property purchases and sellers and agents with clearer records of agreements, payments and responsibilities.

He said the major challenge in proptech was translating complex property transactions involving multiple parties, identity checks, documents, payment arrangements and commissions into a simple, secure digital workflow.

Moti added that the platform had addressed the challenge by focusing on the core transaction process and integrating features around the needs of buyers, sellers and agents, while making trust and accountability key product requirements.