Youths in Akure, Ondo State, on Tuesday took to the streets in a peaceful protest against the rising cost of house rent in the city.
The demonstrators decried what they described as arbitrary and steep rent increases by landlords and estate agents, warning that the situation has made decent housing unaffordable for many young residents and civil servants.
Marching through major streets, the protesters carried placards and chanted solidarity songs, urging the state government and relevant authorities to take urgent action.
They noted that a one-bedroom self-contained apartment in Akure now rents for between N250,000 and N350,000 annually, while a room-and-parlour unit goes for N300,000 to N500,000. Two-bedroom flats reportedly cost between N500,000 and N1.3 million per year.
Kemisola Ologun, one of the protesters, alleged that some landlords deliberately evict tenants to impose higher rents, stressing the need for government regulation to protect tenants.
She emphasized that the current situation has forced many to live in substandard conditions, while some risk homelessness.
In response, Hon. Olajide Oguntodu, a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly representing Akure South Constituency 1, said he would raise the issue on the House floor.
In a statement, he assured residents that legislative action would be taken to curb arbitrary rent increases and unethical practices in property transactions.
Oguntodu also revealed plans to sponsor a bill to regulate house rent and establish a regulatory agency in the state.
He appealed to landlords and estate agents to exercise restraint, urging residents to remain calm while the legislature works on a solution.
“Housing is a basic necessity, and access to it must be fair, humane, and regulated in a manner that protects both tenants and property owners.”
“I assure the people of Akure that their voices have been heard, and steps will be taken to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in the housing sector,” the statement said.
