Kogi Housing Commissioner Engages Estate Surveyors, Valuers, and Agents to Address Arbitrary Rent Hike

The Kogi State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Abanika Taiye, on Tuesday, 9th September 2025, engaged the Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, along with the Nigerian Association of Agents, Kogi State Chapter, in a bid to address the arbitrary increase in house rents across the state.

The meeting, which was held at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in Lokoja, provided a platform for dialogue between the ministry and critical stakeholders in the housing sector.

While welcoming his guests, Hon. Abanika explained that the engagement was designed as a platform to “learn and unlearn” while exchanging ideas toward proffering lasting solutions to the challenges in the housing sector.

He expressed concern that certain mischief makers had recently taken to social media to portray Kogi State in bad light over alleged rent exploitation. The Commissioner noted that while property owners are entitled to their investments, they cannot adopt the rental standards of Abuja in Kogi, a state still undergoing economic and industrial development.

“Kogi State is predominantly occupied by civil servants. Property managers must take this peculiarity into account, rather than benchmarking rents on Abuja standards. Growth is a gradual process, and as government works to make the state more economically viable, fairness must guide the sector,” Hon. Abanika stated.

He further informed the stakeholders that a law regulating the relationship between landlords and tenants already exists in Kogi State, but is currently undergoing reforms to reflect present realities before full implementation. The Commissioner assured that with the massive investment and commitment of His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, to housing and urban renewal, Kogi State remains ripe and open to investors.

Responding, the representatives of the associations commended the state government for its commitment to housing and urban development. They, however, explained that the hike in house rents is largely due to high demand and low supply, coupled with the absence of a unified building materials market in Lokoja, which has stifled competition compared to other cities. They also cited the rising cost of labour as a major factor, as investors naturally seek to recover expenses.

The associations further advised the government to create new residential layouts across the state and provide the necessary infrastructure, such as roads, water supply, and electricity. According to them, this measure will invariably reduce the cost of building houses and, in turn, make rents more affordable for residents.

They equally urged the government to invest in more housing estates while pledging their partnership and continued support for the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in the collective effort to make decent housing accessible to all residents.