Undergraduates Accuse Otuoke Landlords Of Arbitrary Rent Increases

Students of the Federal University Otuoke (FUO), Bayelsa State, have accused landlords of arbitrary rent increases and eviction threats.

For many undergraduates of the varsity, securing decent and affordable accommodation has become a daily struggle marked by fear, uncertainty and frustration.

What was once a manageable challenge has now grown into a serious concern, as students accuse some landlords in the Otuoke community of arbitrary rent increases, unlawful eviction threats, and alleged intimidation involving security personnel.

Following the resumption of academic activities this month, several students returned to Otuoke only to discover sudden hikes in house rent.

These increases, the students said, were imposed without prior notice, written agreement, or any clear justification. In some cases, rent reportedly doubled within a single year, placing unbearable pressure on students and their families.

Under Nigerian tenancy laws, landlords are required to give proper notice before increasing rent or evicting tenants. Evictions must also follow due legal process, including adequate notice and, where necessary, a court order. Students argued that these basic legal protections are being ignored, leaving them vulnerable to forced eviction and homelessness.

Beyond rent increases, students have raised more troubling but yet to be confirmed allegations. According to them, some landlords allegedly use security personnel, including military and police officers stationed around the residence of former President Goodluck Jonathan, to intimidate and harass students who question rent hikes or delay payment.

They believe community leaders should play a mediating role between landlords and students, especially as the university population largely depends on the host community for accommodation. Instead, they say the situation has created a hostile living environment that disrupts academic focus and emotional well-being.

A student of the Department of Political Science, Azibaoguensi Godknows, said he is really affected and concerned about the issue.

He said, “When I got admission into Federal University Otuoke in 2023, I was paying N180,000 for a self-contained apartment. In 2024, the landlady suddenly increased the rent to N370,000. There was no renovation, the house is cracked, the toilet door is bad, and there is no good water supply. My parents could not afford it, and I had to move out.”

Godknows added that his search for alternative accommodation only made matters worse. “I had to pay N170,000 for a very small room with almost no space. What I got is not worth the price. Every year, the rent keeps increasing, and I don’t know if it is the landlords or the agents, but it is becoming too much,” he lamented.

Another student, Stephen Azorbo of the Department of English and Communication Studies, shared a similar experience, describing a steady and unexplained rise in rent over his four years in school.

“In my 100 level in 2023, I paid N80,000. In 200 level, it increased to N90,000. In 300 level, it jumped to N150,000, and now in my final year, it is N200,000,” Azorbo said.

“This is not even a self-contained apartment. It is a single room with a public toilet and no water. Every year they increase the rent without doing anything new. If you complain, they tell you to pack out,” he added.

Concerned students have now called on relevant authorities to intervene before the situation escalates further. In a statement signed by Sen. Agele Teidei Wisdom, a student of FUO, they appealed to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri, the Minister of Education, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Education, security agencies, student bodies, and human rights institutions to act urgently.

The students are demanding an immediate halt to arbitrary rent increases, an end to unlawful eviction threats, a full investigation into alleged intimidation involving security personnel, and the establishment of a regulated, student-friendly housing framework in the Otuoke community.

Several calls were placed to the Ogbia local government chairman, Hon. Golden Jeremiah, but he did not respond. When he later responded, he requested that an SMS be sent to him. However, after the text message was sent, he declined to make any comment as at the time of filing this report.

When contacted, the management of the Federal University Otuoke declined to comment directly on the issue. After several unanswered calls to the university’s public relations officer, Mercy Ekott, for several days, an SMS and WhatsApp message were sent to her.

She later responded by referring our correspondent to the Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Juliet Bodisere Tiebowei.

In her response, Professor Tiebowei explained that only designated officers are authorised to speak on behalf of the institution, noting that she was not permitted to comment publicly on the matter.

As the situation continues to unfold, students insist that while landlords have the right to earn fair returns on their properties, such rights must be exercised within the law. For them, education should not come at the cost of dignity, safety, and basic human rights.