The on-going liquidity crisis that has affected virtually every sector in the country is taking a toll on the construction and real estate companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, as the sector currently ranks one of the worst performing sectors in the stock market. The sector is the only one that posted negative returns for the three consecutive quarters this year. Specifically, activity in the sector went down by 13.78 percent year-to-date though it outperformed the NSE All Share Index, ASI, which is down by 16.34 percent year-to-date (y/d). Though almost every sector in the market recorded dismal performance in the third quarter (Q3) ended September 30, 2018, the real estate and construction sector has maintained poor outing in three consecutive quarters this year. In the first quarter ended March 31, 2018, the sector declined by 15.97 percent. The performance improved in the second quarter, but maintained a down-trend to 13.79 percent, while it closed the third quarter with 13.78 percent decline. The lacklustre performance has also spread to other real estate related products, including real estate funds – a mutual fund that focuses primarily on investing in securities offered by real estate companies – and Real Estate Investment Trust, REIT.
Rotimi Aroge
The current government need to address this if they make it back as the new Government of the day.