The Cross River State Government has appealed to landlords to reconsider rising house rents, saying frequent and steep increases are worsening the financial pressure on residents.
The Commissioner for Lands, Erasmus Ekpang, made the appeal on Monday while speaking with journalists in Calabar.
Ekpang said many households across the state were already struggling to cope with increased food, transportation and other living costs, making further rent hikes particularly burdensome.
“There is enough suffering in the land already. The people are already struggling with the rising cost of food, transportation and other basic needs,” he said.
The commissioner urged property owners to avoid arbitrary rent increases that could leave long-standing tenants unable to afford their homes.
He said landlords should take the welfare of their tenants into consideration, particularly at a time when families were being forced to make difficult choices between paying rent and meeting other basic needs.
Ekpang also appealed for a reduction in prevailing rental costs across the state, stressing that residential properties should be viewed not only as investments but as homes where families require stability and dignity.
He warned that unchecked increases could force residents out of homes and further deepen the accommodation challenges facing communities across Cross River.
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