Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State House of Assembly has threatened to ban housing agents in Calabar and other parts of the state.
This is over their alleged role in arbitrarily inflating rent prices and worsening the cost of living for residents.
The lawmakers reached the resolution during plenary on Tuesday following a motion raised by the member representing Abi State Constituency, Davies Etta, under Matters of Urgent Public Importance.
Etta expressed concern over what he described as โunreasonable, unprovoked, and economically destabilizingโ rent increases across Calabar and its environs, blaming landlords and property agents for exploiting tenants amid the current economic hardship.
According to him, many residents have cried out as landlords, often acting on the advice of housing agents, now charge exorbitant rents even on old and dilapidated buildings.
โA self-contained apartment on Marian Road now costs as much as โฆ1.5 million per year, while in Calabar South, a one-bedroom flat goes for between โฆ800,000 and โฆ1 million. In areas like Parliamentary Extension, E1, State Housing, and CICC, tenants are being charged up to โฆ2 million or more,โ Etta said.
He lamented that some landlords now demand two yearsโ rent upfront and issue immediate eviction notices to tenants unable to comply, calling the practice โheartless and socially dangerous.โ
Etta urged the Assembly to enact a law to regulate property rental and leasing, create balance between landlords and tenants, and empower the Ministry of Housing to monitor rent practices across the state.
In their contributions, several lawmakers decried the activities of housing agents, accusing them of manipulating the property market for selfish gain.
Standley Nsemo (Calabar Municipality) described agents as โmiddlemen profiting from peopleโs suffering,โ calling for their total regulation or outright ban. Francis Ogban (Biase) linked the rent surge to rising crime rates, while Omang Omang (Bekwarra) said the welfare of Crossriverians must remain governmentโs top priority.
Ashakia Pius (Obanliku) went further to demand the abolition of housing agents entirely, stressing that their involvement has pushed rent prices beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
Responding, Speaker of the House, Elvert Ayambem, commended the motion as โtimely and people-centered.โ He assured that the 10th Assembly would not hesitate to take legislative action to protect tenants from exploitation and ensure fairness in the housing sector.
โThis Assembly belongs to the people. We will continue to stand with them to create balance, fairness, and affordability in housing across Cross River State,โ Ayambem said.
