By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN), Osun State Chapter, yesterday accused landlords and estate agents in the state of compounding the hardship being experienced by some Nigeria citizens through exorbitant rents and levies.
The Speaker of the Youth Assembly, Rt. Hon. Fatomi Dare Hammed while addressing journalists at the Osun NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Osogbo said the actions have placed an unbearable financial burden on many citizens of the country, mainly the civil servants, artisans, as well as low-income earners, who are currently grappling with the prevailing economic challenges.
The Youth forum warned house agents, especially, against what it termed as their exploitative tendencies, admonishing government at all levels to rein in these individuals.
According to the YAN, “As the Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Osun State Chapter, our mandate is to defend the interests, dignity, and wellbeing of the young people of this state. That is why today, we are speaking with one voice, one message, and one demand: end the unchecked exploitation in the housing sector that continues to plague the people of Osun State.
“In recent times, our cities and towns have become a hotbed for fraudulent and exploitative practices by house agents and landlords who operate freely without regulation, oversight, or consequences under a broken system. What we are witnessing is not just an inconvenience, it is a crisis that has spiraled beyond individual struggles into a societal emergency.
“Every week, young people such as students, job seekers, newly employed civil servants, newlyweds, and young professionals relay stories that are as heartbreaking as they are outrageous from their experiences dealing with these greedy and dubious agents and landlords:
“Such as house agents demanding exorbitant inspection fees without any guarantee of securing a home.
“Or agents and landlords collecting advance payments or agency fees from desperate house hunters only to end up disappearing or denying access to the said property afterward.
