EKITI GOVT MOVES TO CURB SOARING HOUSE RENTS, SETS UP ESTATE AGENTS TRIBUNAL
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Ekiti State Government has condemned the rising cost of house rents across the state, declaring that it will not remain passive while residents are subjected to arbitrary and excessive charges.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Land and Mortgage Development, Dr. Gboyega Oloniyo, made the position known on Saturday in Ado Ekiti during a one-day sensitisation programme on house rent reduction themed “Connecting homeowners and making accommodations accessible to all in Ekiti State.”
Oloniyo noted that Ekiti’s growing profile as an investment hub has attracted more residents and businesses, thereby increasing demand for housing. However, he stressed that this growth must not translate into exploitation.
“We are now an investment hub, and a lot of people will be coming in. They need to have a befitting shelter. So the government must ensure that people get value for money when it comes to estate rents and valuations in Ekiti State,” he said.
The event brought together key stakeholders in the real estate sector, including landlords, estate agents, surveyors, valuers, and government officials.
Following deliberations, Oloniyo announced the establishment of an Estate Agents Committee of Ekiti State to serve as a tribunal to address arbitrary rent practices and regulate the activities of agents.
He described as “very worrisome” the trend where public infrastructure projects are followed by sharp and sometimes unjustified rent hikes. He also criticised excessive agency fees and so-called “all-inclusive facility charges,” which he said have placed decent accommodation beyond the reach of many residents.
“Government cannot fold its arms; we must ensure that things are properly regulated so that people are not cheated unnecessarily,” Oloniyo stated.
He cited instances where a house advertised at ₦90,000 eventually costs tenants as much as ₦220,000 due to additional charges imposed by intermediaries. “Things like this must change,” he added, warning that the state would not allow unqualified agents or “quacks” to make life difficult for residents.
Oloniyo urged landlords and community leaders to collaborate with the government in reviewing rent levels, improving housing standards, and prioritising residents’ welfare. He noted that under Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration, several housing estates are being developed across the state to boost supply and improve affordability.
He also appealed to the Federal Government to address the rising cost of building materials, expressing optimism that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would tackle the issue.
The Chairman of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Lands, Housing and Physical Planning, Yomi Ayorinde, welcomed the initiative and pledged legislative backing. He disclosed that a committee would produce an actionable report, which the House would translate into enforceable law to standardise estate agency charges and curb arbitrary rent increases.
Similarly, the Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Community Communications, Mrs. Mary Oso-Omotosho, assured residents that consultations would continue to achieve lasting solutions to escalating rents. She said the newly constituted committee would monitor estate agents’ activities and recommend legal measures to sanitise the sector.
The latest move reinforces earlier efforts by the Oyebanji administration to regulate the real estate sector, particularly in Ado Ekiti and communities hosting tertiary institutions, with a view to ensuring that housing in the state is available, accessible, and affordable.
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