Youths Protest Soaring House Rent, Demand Regulation Of Landlords, Estate Agents In Ondo

Hundreds of young residents in Ondo State, on Monday, stormed the streets of Akure, the state capital, to protest what they described as the “arbitrary and unbearable” hike in house rents and the exploitative activities of estate agents.

The protesters, under the banner of ‘Concerned Ondo Youths’, marched through major roads in the capital city, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Housing is a Right, Not a Luxury”, “Regulate Agents Now”, and “Stop the Rent Hike!”

Speaking during the peaceful demonstration, one of the coordinators, Ayomide Ogunleye, lamented that the continuous rise in houses rent, which has made decent accommodation unaffordable for many young people across the state.

“What we are experiencing is pure extortion. Landlords and agents keep increasing rent without any regulation. Many youths can no longer afford decent housing, and some have been forced into overcrowded and unsafe buildings,” Ogunleye said.

Another protester, Tosin Adeyemi, described the housing situation as “a ticking time bomb,” calling for urgent government intervention.

“We are calling on the state government to step in before things get worse. A lot of people are practically homeless or living in conditions not fit for humans. It’s time for authorities to take this issue seriously,” Adeyemi added.

The youths also urged the government to introduce a digital housing regulation platform to monitor landlords and real estate agents, ensure fair rent pricing, and enhance transparency in property transactions.

According to the protesters, such an initiative would not only protect tenants from exploitation but could also serve as a verifiable source of internally generated revenue (IGR) for the state.

“A housing regulation app will help the government track rent activities, prevent illegal charges, and generate revenue at the same time. Everyone wins,” said Bukola Akinola, another protester.

They warned that failure to address the housing crisis could worsen the economic hardship faced by young people in the state, further fueling social unrest.

Efforts to get a response from officials of the Ondo State Ministry of Lands and Housing were unsuccessful as of press time.