Cross River rent regulation takes shape as lawmakers move to ban housing agents accused of inflating rents and worsening living costs in Calabar

The Cross River rent regulation debate intensified on Tuesday as the State House of Assembly considered a motion to ban housing agents accused of arbitrarily inflating rent prices in Calabar and other parts of the state.

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The resolution followed a motion raised under matters of urgent public importance by Hon. Davies Etta, member representing Abi State Constituency, who condemned the sharp rise in rent rates as “unreasonable, unprovoked, and economically destabilising.”

Etta alleged that many landlords, acting on the advice of property agents, were exploiting tenants amid the nation’s deepening economic hardship.

He described the situation as a “heartless trend” that has forced many residents to the brink of homelessness.

“Buildings erected over two to three decades ago, many with leaking roofs and poor plumbing, are now rented out at outrageous rates,” Etta lamented.

“A self-contained room on Marian Road now costs as high as ₦1.5 million per year, while a one-bedroom apartment in Calabar South goes for between ₦800,000 and ₦1 million.

In Parliamentary Extension, E1, State Housing, and CICC areas, tenants are being charged up to ₦2 million for modest flats.”

He warned that the unregulated escalation of rent was “socially dangerous” and economically unsustainable, with some landlords demanding two years’ rent upfront and issuing instant eviction notices to those unable to comply.

Etta urged the Assembly to create a regulatory framework for property rental and leasing to ensure fairness between landlords and tenants, while mandating the Ministry of Housing to monitor rent practices across the state.

He also advocated for a review of the cost of locally produced building materials to make housing more affordable.

In his response, Speaker Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem described the motion as “timely and people-centred,” assuring residents that the 10th Assembly would prioritise legislation that improves living standards and ensures fairness in the housing sector.

“This Assembly belongs to the people,” Ayambem said. “We will continue to stand with them to create balance, fairness, and affordability in housing across Cross River State.”

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The motion is expected to pave the way for a Cross River rent regulation bill, aimed at tackling arbitrary rent increases and protecting the rights of tenants across the state.