Residents of Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, have raised concerns over the rising cost of house rent, saying the situation is placing heavy financial pressure on many households.
Tenants, particularly low- and mid-level civil servants as well as small business owners, say the high cost of accommodation is making it increasingly difficult to cope with the current economic realities.
Daily Trust findings show that the influx of people from different parts of the country into Jalingo for business and employment opportunities has increased the demand for housing, leading to higher rental prices.
Growing demand drives rent increase
An estate agent, Dauda Chindo, said the growing number of people relocating to Jalingo has contributed significantly to the rising demand for rented houses.
According to him, many individuals moving into the town are either business operators or civil servants posted to federal establishments in the state.
Chindo explained that the combination of rising demand and the increasing cost of building materials has pushed rents higher in recent years.
He noted that the growing population has intensified competition for available houses, making it difficult for tenants to secure affordable accommodation.
Housing shortage in the state
An estate developer, Mallam Ibrahim, said the Taraba State Government has not paid sufficient attention to providing housing for civil servants despite the growing demand for accommodation.
He said that although the state was created over three decades ago, only a few housing estates have been built to accommodate government workers.
According to him, several former military administrators and civilian governors constructed some housing estates in the past, but the number of available houses remains limited.
He listed past administrations that built residential quarters, including those under former military administrators and civilian governors such as Jolly Nyame, the late Danbaba Suntai and Darius Ishaku.
However, he noted that the current administration of Governor Agbu Kefas has yet to initiate the construction of a new housing estate.
Existing government housing estates, he added, are located in areas such as Taraba Investment Area, Mile 6, Magami and the NYSC orientation camp area along the Jalingo–Mutum Biyu road.
However, most of the houses in those estates are already occupied by civil servants, including some who have retired but continue to reside in the quarters.
Cost of building houses remains high
A quantity surveyor, Engr. Lawal Adamu, said developers in Jalingo spend large sums to construct residential buildings.
According to him, building a two-bedroom flat in the city currently costs not less than N18 million.
He added that despite the high construction cost, landlords typically charge between N300,000 and N350,000 annually for such apartments.
Adamu noted that the slow return on investment discourages many potential developers from investing in residential housing projects.
He explained that it may take several years for landlords to recover the money spent on construction through rent payments.
As a result, few developers are willing to build houses specifically for rental purposes in the city.
Tenants struggle with rising costs
Many residents say the high cost of rent is taking a serious toll on their finances.
A civil servant, Nuhu Muhammad, said that beyond paying rent, tenants also face additional expenses such as transportation from their homes to workplaces.
He explained that some newly developed housing estates are located far from the city centre, making commuting more expensive for workers.
Another federal civil servant, Suleiman Muhammed, said he pays N300,000 annually for a two-bedroom apartment in the ATC area of Jalingo.
He compared the cost with Bauchi, where he previously lived and paid N170,000 for a similar apartment.
According to him, the difference in rent is surprising given that Bauchi has a larger population and more government institutions than Jalingo.
Business owners also affected
Traders operating in the city say the rising cost of both residential and commercial rent is affecting their businesses.
A trader who relocated from Kano State, Yahuza Lawal, said he pays N120,000 annually for a single room apartment in the Magami area and N150,000 yearly for a shop along Hammaruwa Road.
He said the current economic situation and declining business activity have made it difficult for small business owners to sustain their operations.
Some residents argue that landlords are exploiting tenants, noting that Jalingo has relatively limited commercial activities compared with other state capitals.
Housing projects yet to be completed
Daily Trust findings also revealed that two housing estates in the state remain incomplete.
One of the estates was constructed during the administration of former governor Darius Ishaku but has yet to be commissioned.
Another housing project initiated through a mortgage bank has also been abandoned.
Residents believe that completing and allocating these estates could help reduce the shortage of houses, particularly for civil servants in the state.
