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Cross River Assembly Bans Housing Agents Over Inflating Rent Prices

The Cross River State House of Assembly is currently deliberating on a motion that could lead to the banning of housing agents in Calabar and other parts of the state.

 

The move is in response to public outcry over the arbitrary inflation of rent prices, which lawmakers argue is worsening the cost of living for residents.

 

The resolution was reached during plenary on Tuesday following a motion of urgent public importance raised by Davies Etta, the member representing Abi State Constituency.

 

Etta strongly condemned what he termed the “unreasonable, unprovoked, and economically destabilizing” rent increases, pointing fingers at both landlords and property agents for exploiting tenants amid the current economic hardship.

 

According to Etta, many landlords are now charging exorbitant rates on old and dilapidated buildings, often acting on the advice of housing agents.

 

He cited instances of buildings erected decades ago, many with leaking roofs and faulty plumbing, being rented out at outrageous rates. He provided stark examples of the cost escalation:

* A self-contained room on Marian Road now costs as high as ₦1.5 million per year.

* In Calabar South, a one-bedroom apartment goes for between ₦800,000 and ₦1 million.

* In upscale areas like Parliamentary Extension, E1, State Housing, and CICC, tenants are being charged up to ₦2 million or more for a one- or two-bedroom flat.

 

The lawmaker decried the growing impunity among landlords who issue instant eviction notices to tenants unable to meet the new demands, with some now insisting on two years’ rent paid upfront.

 

He warned that this unregulated rent escalation is “heartless, economically destabilizing, and socially dangerous.”

Lawmakers Call for Regulatory Framework

Etta urged the House to urgently legislate a regulatory framework for property rental and leasing.

 

He called on the Assembly to create a balance between the rights of landlords and the dignity of tenants, and to compel the Ministry of Housing to monitor and control rent-related practices.

 

Additionally, he advocated for a reduction in the cost of locally produced building materials as a measure to ease the housing challenges faced by civil servants, students, and small business owners.

 

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, commended the motion as “timely and people-centred,” reaffirming the 10th Assembly’s commitment to enacting laws that directly impact citizens’ lives.

 

He concluded by stating, “This Assembly belongs to the people. We will continue to stand with them to create balance, fairness, and affordability in housing across Cross River State.”

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