Rents Soar As Kogi Landlords Favour “Yahoo Boys”

Residents in Kogi State are feeling the impact of a severe housing shortage, as rents have sharply increased, putting immense financial strain on citizens amidst the current economic difficulties.

Kogi, strategically surrounded and located near 10 other states and bordered by the Niger and Benue rivers, has been a popular place to settle since its founding in 1991. Previously, housing options were somewhat manageable for both locals and civil servants working in federal and state institutions.

Over the years, several governors built housing estates to ease accommodation challenges, including the Adankolo Estate and the Aniebo Quarters, as well as additional units built by past administrations. However, recent administrations have not added to these housing projects.

Now, rental costs have risen dramatically. A single room that previously cost around N40,000 has jumped to N80,000 or even N100,000. Similarly, one-bedroom apartments, once rented for N120,000, now cost between N350,000 and N450,000, while two- and three-bedroom flats are renting for over N600,000, making them out of reach for civil servants and low-income earners.

Residents Express Frustration

Many residents, particularly civil servants, have expressed distress over these rent increases, warning that the unchecked rise could lead to a mental health crisis among struggling tenants. Abdullahi Umar from Adankolo voiced his concern: “It’s shocking how landlords are hiking rents. Many of us are already struggling with rising costs and can barely afford necessities, and now rent has become unaffordable. I was paying N35,000 for one room, but my landlord raised it to N90,000 without any improvements. This is extreme and unfair.”

Another resident, Hajia Mulikat Adomu, urged the government to intervene: “Some landlords are intentionally causing hardship. We have no choice but to pay or leave. The government should build affordable housing for residents and civil servants to ease this burden.”

Landlords Prefer Renting to Yahoo Boys, Says Estate Manager

Peter Suleiman, CEO of Good Trust Estate Management, pointed out a troubling trend where landlords in Lokoja increasingly prefer renting to Yahoo Boys (suspected cyber-fraudsters) who can afford the higher rents. According to Suleiman, this prioritization of renters with questionable incomes is harming legitimate tenants.

“Landlords are now more interested in Yahoo Boys as tenants because they can pay these excessive rents,” he explained. “This is promoting cyber fraud in our community. Genuine business owners are being pushed out because they cannot match these high rents. The state government should step in and regulate these rental practices.”

Suleiman also highlighted another issue: fake real estate agents who exploit the housing crisis to deceive desperate renters. He warned that these fraudulent agents were taking advantage of those seeking affordable housing in a market already facing severe challenges.

The situation has created a dilemma for residents as housing becomes increasingly inaccessible, with economic pressures rising across the state.

Many are calling on the Kogi State Government to establish policies that would curb exploitative rental practices and support housing for law-abiding citizens.

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