By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

The Osun State chapter of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has expressed deep concern over the growing exploitation of prospective tenants in Osogbo by house agents, describing it as part of the broader national housing crisis.

In a statement issued by the State Chairman of CDHR, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu, the organisation decried the alarming rate at which tenants are being compelled to pay outrageous and unjustifiable fees, often under the guise of housing scarcity.

“What is being experienced in Osogbo is a reflection of a larger problem across Nigeria, where the lack of regulatory oversight and poor government intervention has emboldened unethical practices in the housing sector,” Olowu stated.

He emphasised that the standard and legal procedure for acquiring rental properties typically involves a 10 per cent tenancy fee, a 10 per cent agency commission, and a refundable caution deposit that corresponds with the value and condition of the property. “Anything beyond this is clear exploitation and must be firmly resisted,” he said.

The CDHR blamed the government’s failure to prioritise housing as a critical issue, warning that the absence of proactive investment in public housing has allowed exploitation to thrive.

To address the crisis, the CDHR called on the Osun State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria to take immediate action by:

1. Launching affordable housing projects to reduce the supply-demand gap fuelling the exploitation.
2. Collaborating with the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) to sanitise the sector and eliminate sharp practices by unqualified agents.
3. Enacting laws that mandate all companies operating in the real estate sector to register with the NIESV.
4. Ensuring that companies whose trustees are not qualified Estate Surveyors and Valuers either employ certified professionals or operate under the supervision of one.

“The CDHR will continue to advocate for the right of every Nigerian to access decent and affordable housing without fear of exploitation,” Olowu declared.

The organisation urged citizens to report any cases of extortion or unethical conduct in the real estate sector to appropriate bodies, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Nigerian Police Force, NIESV, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, and the CDHR Osun State branch.

“We call on all relevant authorities to respond swiftly and justly to complaints,” the statement concluded.