The Osun State chapter of the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN) has issued a seven-day deadline to the state government, calling for immediate action against what it described as widespread exploitation of tenants by landlords and property agents.
At a press briefing in Osogbo on Tuesday, YAN Speaker Fatomi Hammed expressed frustration over what he termed the government’s prolonged inaction on the matter. He warned that failure to respond within the specified timeframe would lead to a large-scale peaceful protest, which he described as a demonstration of public demand for fairness and accountability.
Hammed highlighted several exploitative practices, including high inspection fees, false property representations, and unjustified rent hikes. He accused some agents of collecting upfront payments only to become unreachable or deny tenants access to the rented properties.
According to him, numerous appeals and formal communications had previously been submitted to both the executive and legislative arms of the state government, yet no tangible steps had been taken to protect citizens.
“We have exhausted all diplomatic channels, submitted petitions, and engaged the relevant institutions, but our concerns remain unacknowledged,” he said. “It’s disheartening that the government has chosen silence in the face of such a pressing social issue.”
While acknowledging the strides made by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration in infrastructure and youth empowerment, Hammed emphasized that the housing crisis posed a serious threat to the state’s growth and stability.
He added, “This is not an attack on the government or its leadership. It is a call for action to ensure housing policies are fair, accessible, and enforced in the interest of the people. Unchecked exploitation will only deter investment, push away skilled youth, and undermine the administration’s developmental efforts.”
YAN urged the government to establish effective regulatory measures for housing transactions, create accessible complaint channels for victims, and ensure transparency in dealings between agents, landlords, and tenants.
