Taraba residents decry high rent
Tenants in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital have complained of high cost of rent, adding that the current situation is taking a deep toll on their finances Mostly affected low and mid level career civil servants as well as individuals running small and medium sized businesses in the state. Daily Trust findings revealed that the […]
Awoniyi Housing Estate built in 1998 by a former military administrator of Taraba State, Col Joseph Awoniyi Photo: Magaji lsa Hunkuyi
Tenants in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital have complained of high cost of rent, adding that the current situation is taking a deep toll on their finances
Mostly affected low and mid level career civil servants as well as individuals running small and medium sized businesses in the state.
Daily Trust findings revealed that the influx of people from different parts of the country into Jalingo for business has increased demand and subsequently, price of rent.
“Demand for houses keep increasing because of the number of people coming into the town for business while many were posted or transferred by Federal government establishment” an estate agent, Dauda Chindo said.
He said in recent years Jalingo town is witnessing influx of people from different parts of the country and that has increased the number of people seeking rented houses.
Dauda explained that the demand for rented houses and high cost of building materials are key factors responsible for high rent in the town.
In the same vein, Mallam Ibrahim, an estate developer, told Daily Trust that Taraba state government did not pay attention to building houses of its staff.
According to him, the state which was created thirty five years ago did not bother building houses for both senior and junior civil servants despite shortage of staff accommodation, but rather decided to do that for legislators
He said four former military administrators of the state built housing estates but the number of houses they built were few and have all been occupied by civil servants, some of them already retired but still staying in the quarters.
Mallam Ibrahim, further stated that “Among the former military and civilian governors that built quarters include the first military administrator of the state Afolahan,the former civilian governor of the state Jolly Nyame, police commissioner Oyaghire, Col Awoniyi,Late Danbaba Suntai and Darius Ishaku but the incumbent governor Agbu Kefas is yet to embark on construction of housing estate,”.
He further noted that existing estimates are located at Taraba investment area, mile 6, Magami and NYSC orientation camp area along Jalingo Mutum Biyu road, stating that it is difficult to bring down rent because most of the houses rented out are owned by individuals including civil servants, politicians and business men .
He said those that built houses and rented out are doing so as business though it takes time to recover what one spent in building a house.
A civil servant,Nuhu Muhammad commenting on the high cost of rent in Jalingo said apart from the high cost of rent, tenants also face the cost of transport from the house they rented to their places of work or business.
He said the two housing estates which are yet to be completed are located far away from the city center.
He stated that those that are going to get allocation in the two estates need to have their personal transport otherwise they would spend more money to go their offices and places of business
“Infact tenants are always very careful in renting houses from location far away from their places of work and business
“ That is why good locations matters the more when building houses for rent, there are locations in this town where no matter how good your house is people will not rent it because of the distance to city center “ he said
What this means
A quantity surveyor, Eng Lawal Adamu, told Daily Trust that despite the fact that woods,sand, laterite and stones are cheaper in Jalingo town than any other town in the North East region, the price of other building materials is high in Jalingo compared to other towns.
“With current price of land and building materials, a developer would spend not less than N18million to construct a two bedroom flat in Jalingo and when it is rented out the rent is always between N300,000 to N350,000 per annum,” he said
Eng Lawal,stated that going by the rent being collected by owners of rented houses,it will take many years for a developer to recover the money he spent in building a house.
“You need good capital base to embark on construction of houses and shops for rent in Jalingo because it takes many years to recover what you spent in building the house through the monthly or yearly rent you collect from your tenants
“And it is unwise for any business man to take a loan and build a house for rent and that is why there are few estate developers in Jalingo hence the scarcity of houses for rent” Eng Lawal said.
Daily Trust findings revealed that two housing estates, one constructed by former civilian governor of the state Darius Ishaku, are yet to be commissioned, just as there is another estate being constructed through Mortgage Bank but the project was abandoned.
The two estates all situated along Jalingo – Mutumbiyu road if completed and allocated will reduce the problem of shortage of houses for civil servants.
Daily Trust findings further revealed that in Jalingo, there are some strategic areas that attract more individuals than others due to key consideration like access roads and constant electricity and supply
However areas like Mile 6, behind Jolly Nyame stadium,Yabon Kaka, ATC and Taraba state University area,Abuja phase 2 where there huge development is ongooing, buildings for rent are the choice of some class of people including students and business people mostly from South East and other neighboring states.
Others include CBN, Mayogwoi, Baba Yau, the main Jalingo area, Yagai, Jika da Fari, Sabo Gari ,Nana Aisha, Nasarawo and Tudun Wada among others
Exploitative move
However tenants, view high rent as exploitation insisting that Jalingo has little or no commercial activities ongoing and they are made to part with much of their earnings in payment of rent for houses and shops.
Suleiman Muhammed, a Junior staff in one of Federal establishments in Jalingo said he was transferred from Bauchi to Jalingo and he rented a two bedroom flat at ATC area of Jalingo at the rate of N300,000 per annum.
He said he was paying N170,000 for the same house in Bauchi and wondered why rent should be high in Jalingo.
He said there are more institutions, federal offices and population in Bauchi township compared to Jalingo yet rent is cheaper than Jalingo.
According to him, “Apart from payment of rent,there is also transport from the house to the office as well as feeding and other needs for him and for his family.
“Because of these expenses it is difficult for me to save any money from my monthly salary for the rainy days.
Yahuza Lawal,a trader who moved from Kano state to Jalingo said he rented a single room at Magami area at the rate of N120,000 per annum and also paid N150,000 for the shop he is running his business along Hammaruwa road in Jalingo.
He said with current economic hardship, it is difficult to maintain the family.
Lawal,stated that the business is not moving as it were in previous years and that is why most of the small holding business men are finding it difficult to remain in business because of high rent .
Another federal civil servant,Mr Joseph Gabriel,said rent is high in Jalingo compared to other state capitals in the North.
He said he is on grade level 12 and the rent he is paying and other expenses is too high, a situation that caused hardship for him and his family.
He said he moved part of his family to Gombe from where he was posted to Jalingo and he moved to Jalingo with part of his family.
According to him,his major problem is payment of rent and daily transport fare from his house to the office and that cost him much out of his salary.