Taraba Rent Crisis: Lawyer Petitions Governor Kefas Over “Arbitrary and Exploitative” House Rent Hikes.

By Jalingo Times Correspondent

A fresh storm is gathering over the rising cost of living in Taraba State as a legal practitioner and public interest advocate, Shittu Nguroje, Esq., has formally petitioned Governor Agbu Kefas over what he described as the “unchecked and arbitrary increase in house rents” across Jalingo and other urban centres in the state.

In an urgent petition dated January 10, 2026, by Shittu Nguroje, Esq. routed through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Nguroje warned that the worsening housing situation has pushed thousands of residents  particularly civil servants, students, traders and low-income earners  to the brink of financial distress.

According to the petition, landlords across Taraba have been imposing frequent and steep rent hikes without legal guidance, adequate notice, or any corresponding improvement in housing quality.

 “Rent increases have become frequent and excessive… imposed without statutory guidance, adequate notice, or corresponding improvement in housing conditions,” Nguroje stated, describing the trend as exploitative and socially destabilising.

The lawyer painted a grim picture of a silent housing emergency in Taraba, where families are being forced to relocate, abandon jobs, or crowd into substandard accommodations because they can no longer keep up with rent demands.

He argued that while economic pressures and inflation may affect property values, the absence of a rent and tenancy regulatory framework in the state has created fertile ground for abuse, insecurity and constant landlord–tenant conflicts.

“The lack of regulation has exposed citizens to exploitation, housing insecurity and recurring disputes,” he warned, adding that the crisis is eroding public confidence and social stability.

Nguroje called on Governor Kefas to immediately intervene by initiating an Executive Bill on Rent Regulation and Tenancy Administration, to be forwarded to the Taraba State House of Assembly for urgent legislative action.

The proposed law, he said, would place reasonable limits on rent increases, regulate tenancy relations and protect both landlords and tenants from abuse, while promoting fairness and stability in the housing market.

 “Such intervention will restore balance in landlord–tenant relations, reduce disputes, and reinforce public confidence in the commitment of the Taraba State Government to the welfare and dignity of its citizens,” he wrote.

The petition comes amid mounting public complaints over the soaring cost of housing in Jalingo, Wukari, Takum and other urban centres, where rents have reportedly doubled in some areas within a short period — far outpacing salary adjustments and business earnings.

Observers say the issue has become a major social and political concern, with many residents now spending more than half of their monthly income on rent alone.

As pressure builds, all eyes are now on Governor Agbu Kefas and the Taraba State Government to see whether they will heed the call for decisive action to prevent what many fear could become a full-blown housing crisis in the state.