Aggrieved residents, mostly youths, on Monday embarked on a massive protest across major streets in Ondo State, decrying what they described as arbitrary increases in house rent and exploitative practices by house agents and caretakers.
The protesters, who marched through key areas of Akure, the state capital, carried placards with various inscriptions and chanted solidarity songs to express their frustration over the worsening housing situation amid the prevailing harsh economic conditions.
They lamented that the persistent rise in rent has pushed many young people to the brink, making decent accommodation increasingly unattainable. According to them, the situation has forced some residents into homelessness, while others now live in overcrowded and unhealthy environments just to survive.
The demonstrators also called on the state government to urgently address the rising cost of building materials in Ondo State, particularly sand, roofing sheets, and other essential construction inputs, which they said has contributed significantly to the hike in rent.
As part of their demands, the protesters urged the Ondo State Government to introduce a digital housing regulation application to monitor and regulate the activities of landlords, caretakers, and house agents.
They noted that with the right regulations in place, such a system would help check the excesses and harassment associated with house agents, which they said has further worsened the hardship faced by residents.
They added that the proposed platform could also serve as a dependable source of internally generated revenue (IGR) for the state.
The protesters appealed to the government to act swiftly, warning that failure to address the housing crisis could deepen social and economic hardship, particularly among young people across the state.
