Lokoja, Kogi State – Tension is brewing in Lokoja as residents have petitioned Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the Kogi State House of Assembly over what they describe as arbitrary and unbearable increases in house rents across the state capital.
In a petition submitted through the Clerk of the House of Assembly, the residents lamented that landlords and agents have imposed sudden rent hikes, with some demanding multiple years of advance payment. They warned that the development is pushing families, students and small business owners into hardship.
“The increase in rent is sudden, excessive and arbitrary, without standard regulation. Many of us cannot meet the demand for two or three years’ rent upfront,” the petition read in part.
According to the concerned residents, the situation has worsened the plight of low and middle-income earners, civil servants, and students, many of whom are now at risk of displacement and homelessness.
Calls for Intervention
The petitioners urged the state government and lawmakers to act swiftly by passing the Tenancy Law currently before the House of Assembly, establishing a Rent Control Board and introducing affordable housing policies to ease the burden on residents.
“This practice is worsening urban poverty and insecurity, as displaced persons may be left stranded,” the residents noted.
“We believe timely intervention will not only ease the suffering of the masses but also promote social stability, economic growth, and confidence in government responsiveness.”
Lawmakers Under Pressure
The petition has sparked fresh debate in Lokoja over the need for rent control, with many residents insisting that unchecked exploitation by landlords could trigger a wider social crisis if not addressed.
As of press time, neither the Governor nor the leadership of the House of Assembly has issued an official response to the petition.
source new: Kogi global news
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