Concerned residents of Jos, the Plateau State capital, have decried the rising cost of house rents, agency and legal fees across the metropolis, describing the development as a growing economic crisis capable of triggering instability if urgent action is not taken.
The residents, led by social media advocate, Erica Joseph Wambutda, popularly known on Facebook as Khitmwa J. Wambutda, are mobilising citizens for a one-week online protest campaign to draw government attention to the issue.
Under the theme, “Where Do We Go?”, the campaign is expected to run across major social media platforms with hashtags such as #WeNeedAnswers, #SafeHomesNow, #WeAreTired and #AffordableLiving.
In one of her posts, Erica lamented the worsening housing situation in Jos.
She wrote: “House rents are rising like there’s no limit. Villages are no longer safe to return to. We are stuck in between fear and survival. Where exactly do you expect us to go?”
She added that if government fails to act swiftly, residents may embark on a peaceful walk to press home their demands.
Also lending his voice to the agitation, , Mr Bitrus Nengak Simon, described the rising rent and unregulated agency activities as “a new form of crisis and banditry brewing in Jos.”
According to him, the crisis is no longer about insecurity in rural communities alone, but an economic and systemic challenge affecting residents in areas such as Rayfield, Rantya, Anglo-Jos, Tudun Wada, Abattoir, Hwolshe and Zarmaganda.
Simon, disclosed that some annual housing allowance for civil servants is N421,332, while a self-contained apartment now costs between N500,000 and N700,000 yearly, and a two-bedroom flat goes for between N800,000 and N1 million.
He said: “How does a father like me pay this rent? Do I stop feeding my family? Do I compromise my integrity because the market has decided that my honest salary is irrelevant?”
He blamed the influx of high-income earners and internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, for distorting the rental market, as many landlords now target tenants who can pay huge sums upfront.
Simon also accused unregistered housing agents of exploiting desperate house seekers through arbitrary pricing, multiple listings and non-refundable inspection fees ranging from N2,000 to N5,000.
He further lamented the absence of a tenancy law in Plateau State to regulate rent increases and agency charges.
According to him, unlike Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau has no effective legal framework to protect tenants from arbitrary hikes.
He also faulted the government for failing to review workers’ housing allowances to reflect current realities and for not recovering government quarters allegedly occupied by retirees.
To address the situation, Simon called on the state government to regulate and license housing agents, pass and enforce a tenancy law, establish rent tribunals, publish rent benchmarks and review civil servants’ housing allowances.
He also urged government to recover official quarters from retirees and invest in affordable housing schemes for low- and middle-income earners.
The concerned residents said the campaign was not a fight against landlords, but a collective call to prevent economic hardship from escalating into social unrest.
They urged citizens to share their experiences online and support the movement until government takes decisive action.
Meanwhile iIn a bid to address the astronomical rise in house rent across Plateau State, the State House of Assembly has invited the Hon.
Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Barr. Peter Nyam Gai, to a public hearing on a proposed tenancy law.
The development was disclosed during an oversight visit by the House Committee on Lands, Survey and Town Planning to the ministry’s headquarters at No. 12 J.D. Gomwalk Boulevard, Jos.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Abel Nimchak commended the commissioner and his management team for what he described as “outstanding performance” and fiscal discipline.
Hon. Nimchak particularly lauded the ministry for adhering to its 2026 target, noting that generating N300 million in the first quarter is a “commendable development” that reflects hard work and prudent resource management.
“The Ministry has shown it can deliver within budget and also meet its annual target. What is left now is more hands to address the issue of manpower, which is already before the governor awaiting approval,” Nimchak said.
He also praised the commissioner for creating a “good working environment” for staff, but stressed that staff deficit remained a major constraint to the Ministry’s operations.
