Akure, the Ondo State capital, was on today thrown into tension as a number of youths staged a massive protest against what they described as exorbitant and exploitative charges by house agents, worsening the already high cost of living in the country, Peak Newspaper reports.
The protest, which later spread across key parts of the city, was most intense along Arakale Road, where demonstrators blocked major roads, disrupting vehicular movement and commercial activities for several hours. Protesters carried placards with bold inscriptions, chanting solidarity songs as they decried the unchecked activities of house agents in the state.
The aggrieved youths lamented that despite the prevailing economic hardship and rising cost of living in Nigeria, house agents continue to impose unbearable fees on rent seekers, making accommodation increasingly unaffordable for low- and middle-income earners.
The protesters later marched to the Ondo State Government House, where they made their grievances known and called on the state government to urgently intervene. They appealed for the introduction of clear policies and regulatory frameworks that would curb excessive agent fees and protect tenants from exploitation.
Addressing the protesters on behalf of the state government, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Olugbenga Atiba responded that their concerns had been received and would be given due attention. He noted that the government has a track record of tackling similar challenges, citing the successful intervention in the issue of land grabbing, where a committee was set up and the menace significantly reduced.
According to him, the government is committed to restoring sanity in the housing sector and would, in due course, take concrete steps to address the activities of house agents in the state.
He urged the protesters to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that the government would work towards a lasting solution to ease the burden on residents, he said.
