Housing Shortage Hits Jalingo As Rents Skyrocket

 

Residents of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, are facing growing hardship as house rents and agents' fees continue to rise sharply, a development many describe as unprecedented and unsustainable.

 

Housing experts and real estate practitioners attribute the trend to a widening housing deficit in the state capital, driven largely by rapid population growth. 

 

They also cite government policies and the relatively stable security situation in Taraba State, which they say have made Jalingo a destination of choice for civil servants, traders, students and businesses relocating from neighbouring states.

 

"Jalingo has become attractive because of its calm security situation and expanding government activities, but housing supply has not grown at the same pace," a housing analyst told this newspaper. "The pressure on existing houses is what you are seeing reflected in rent."

 

Several residents who spoke to Taraba Truth and Facts newspaper expressed frustration over what they described as arbitrary increases in rent and excessive agents' charges. They appealed to the Taraba State Government to step in and regulate the activities of landlords and estate agents to cushion the impact of the current economic hardship.

 

"The rent goes up every year without any improvement in the building," said a civil servant living in the Sabon Gari area of Jalingo. "On top of that, agents collect huge fees. It is becoming unbearable for workers."

 

Another resident, a trader in the Mile Six area, said tenants are often forced to pay multiple charges. "Before you even enter the house, you have paid inspection fee, agent fee and agreement fee. Sometimes the agent fee alone is like another rent," he said.

 

Reacting to the allegations, the National Coordinator of the Muri Estate Agents Association  Alhaji Bappa Ahmed Umar blamed most of the excesses on unregistered roadside agents. 

 

He said professional estate agents are guided by rules which stipulate that agency fees should range between two and ten per cent of the annual rent and are subject to negotiation.

 

"Most tenants patronise people who are not registered with any professional body," he said. "Those roadside agents are not regulated and cannot be trusted with proper property valuation. People should always ask which agency an agent belongs to before making payments for rent, land or property."

 

The housing crisis is also hitting students hard, particularly those living around tertiary institutions in Jalingo. Findings by this newspaper around Taraba State University and other institutions show that rent has risen sharply in student-populated areas.

 

Students said a single room without a kitchen and with shared toilet facilities now costs about ₦140,000 per annum, while rooms with small kitchens and private toilets go for between ₦250,000 and ₦350,000.

 

A student of Taraba State University, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the situation has become alarming. "School fees were reduced to help poor students, but accommodation is now beyond our reach. Many students are forced to squat or trek long distances to lectures," he said.

 

Student leaders and education advocates warned that the rising rent could undermine access to education in the state. They noted that overcrowding, unsafe housing and long-distance commuting are becoming common, increasing the risk of dropouts.

 

Civil society groups and community voices have also weighed in, arguing that the rising rent in Jalingo is not driven by improved facilities or better living conditions, but by unchecked exploitation by landlords and agents.

 

"The increase is artificial," a community activist said. "Landlords are taking advantage of scarcity and desperation, especially in so-called choice areas, without adding value."

 

They called on Governor Agbu Kefas to urgently intervene by regulating house rent and agents' fees, especially around state-owned institutions, and by enforcing fair housing policies to protect tenants.

 

Some commentators urged the state government to pursue long-term solutions by investing in public housing estates. They suggested that government-led housing schemes with transparent allocation processes could help reduce pressure on the private rental market.

 

"This is Jalingo, not Lagos or Abuja," one resident said. "There is no justification for this level of rent. Government must act."

 

 residents warn that unless urgent steps are taken, low-income earners, young families and students may be forced out of the state capital, further widening social and economic inequalities.