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Bello, son of Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, says it is not his place to mediate the dispute between his father and Uba Sani, the incumbent governor of the state.
Bello, a member of the house of representatives, said this in an interview with BBC.
Recent political developments indicate that el-Rufai and his successor, Sani, are not on good terms.
Both politicians recently traded blame over the handling of public funds in the state.
In June 2024, the Kaduna assembly recommended the probe of el-Rufai over allegations of public funds diversion and money laundering.
Some of el-Rufai former cabinet members have been charged in court over alleged corruption.
Speaking during the interview, Bello said while he is not against a probe, it shouldn’t be a tool for a witch hunt.
“It is not a bad thing to investigate but it should be done with clear intention and not to humiliate anyone or because someone has offended you. But if you are doing it for selfish reasons, Allah will judge. Allah will forgive your frailties, but will not overlook the harm you inflict on someone,” he said.
He said that the rift between his father and Sani is not as serious as reported, suggesting that it may have been exaggerated.
“It is not pleasant for us, even if someone is my enemy, I do not like to see him fighting another enemy. I want peace,” he said.
“Marriages break up; friends stop being friends; it is just a matter of leaving the relationship despite all the conflicts that arise.
“None of them (Sani and el-Rufai) told me anything about the conflict, I just realised that it’s over now.”
Asked if he could reconcile his father with Sani, Bello retorted: “It is not my job. My job is to focus on helping the people of Kaduna north constituency.”
“I like peace and maintaining trust. For me, there is no one who is better than Mallam Nasiru politically. He only puts his work first and there is no one I want to be like him. He is my father, a father is a father.”
Bello added that he was surprised that people expected him to speak on the matter.
[TheCable]
Lifestyle and beauty influencer Layefa Ebitonmo has shared her candid experience with undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), a popular cosmetic procedure designed to enhance body shape by transferring fat to the buttocks. The outspoken content creator detailed her journey in a video on her YouTube channel, addressing misconceptions, family reactions, and the recovery process.
Ebitonmo revealed that she paid ₦2.1 million for her surgery in 2022. Despite initial concerns from loved ones, she remained resolute in her decision.
“I didn’t really mind if my family didn’t want me to do it. It is something I wanted to do for myself. And I did it. It’s my decision. Am I a child?” she said, emphasizing her autonomy.
She also shared emotional moments from her recovery, recalling how her mother was deeply worried about her well-being.
“My mum used to call every day in the hospital. Every two seconds, she would ask, ‘Is she okay?’ When she called me and saw blood on my neck, she screamed ‘Jesus! I am coming to Lagos now.’”
While acknowledging that the post-surgery experience can be uncomfortable, she debunked myths surrounding the procedure, particularly the belief that it affects fertility.
“It’s a misconception that one won’t be able to have a child after doing BBL. That is the one thing I can say I did my research on.”
Ebitonmo’s openness adds to the growing conversation around body enhancement procedures, personal choices, and societal perceptions of beauty.
[Vanguard]
President Trump has said he is “not interested” in deporting Prince Harry.
Harry currently lives in Montecito, California, with his wife, Meghan Markle.
“I don’t want to do that,” Trump told the New York Post.
“I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”
In February 2024, Trump accused former President, Joe Biden, of “protecting Harry”.
At the time, the billionaire business claimed he wouldn’t do the same if he wins the election and gets into White House.
“He betrayed the queen. That’s unforgivable,” Trump told the Daily Express in an interview.
However, Trump, in his interview with the New York Post, claimed “poor Harry” is “whipped” by Markle.
Trump has previously criticized Prince Harry and Markle over their reported differences with the royal family.
In 2023, he told radio host Hugh Hewitt, “I didn’t like the idea that they [Harry and Markle] were getting US security when they came over here.”
The oarent company of Facebook, Thread, WhatsApp and Instagram, Meta, is set to implement another round of layoffs across its operations in Africa, Europe, and Asia starting Monday next week.
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The company informed its staff of the plans in an internal memo seen by Reuters on Friday.
Notices will go out to employees losing their jobs starting at 5am local time Monday in most countries, including in the United States, according to one of the posts, authored by Meta’s Head of People, Janelle Gale.
However, employees in Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands will be exempted from the cuts “due to local regulations,” while those in more than a dozen other countries across Europe, Asia and Africa will receive their notifications between February 11 and February 18, it said.
LEADERSHIP recalls that Meta confirmed last month that it was planning to trim about 5% of its “lowest performers” and backfill at least some of the positions.
The Friday memo, in which Gale referred to the cuts as “performance terminations,” was first reported by The Information, unlike previous company-wide layoffs, Meta was planning to keep its offices open on Monday and would not issue any updates providing further details on the decisions, Gale said in her post.
A separate memo, posted by VP of Engineering for Monetization Peng Fan on Friday, asked staffers to assist with an expedited hiring process for machine learning engineers and other “business critical” engineering roles.
That process would take place between February 11 and March 13, Fan said in that post.
“Thank you for your continued support in helping us achieve our accelerated hiring goals, and better align with our company’s priorities for 2025,” he stated
The dropbox visa processing option has been discontinued for United States visa applicants in Nigeria, marking a significant change in the US visa renewal procedure.
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Though the US Embassy in Nigeria was yet to issue an official statement on the change, sources have confirmed that the service, which previously allowed eligible applicants to renew their visas without an in-person interview, has been quietly removed from the appointment booking system.
Applicants attempting to schedule visa renewals have reported that the Dropbox feature was no longer an option on the appointment booking platform, suggesting that it may be due to a slew of executive orders from President Donald Trump.
The development came amid a backlog of visa applications, with many applicants waiting for months to secure dropbox appointments before the removal.
Applicants have expressed frustration over the lengthy wait for physical appointments, which has reportedly taken nearly a year.
With the Dropbox option removed and unavailable slots in Lagos since January, applicants may now be required to travel to Abuja for in-person interviews, reverting to the pre-2020 process
Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, has announced that Nigerian students currently receiving the loan will not begin its repayment until two years after completing their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
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Sawyerr who stated this on Saturday while featuring on a TVC News, noted that this applies to those secured jobs, and that the repayment requirements are on their employers.
He added that the employer will be deducting 10% of the employee’s salary and remitting to the Fund monthly.
“Two years after completion of their NYSC, there is a requirement for the loans to be paid back, but the requirement to pay the loan back is on the employer.
“For those who have managed to secure jobs, the employer goes to a database, he or she checks the name and the NIN number of the person who they’re about to employ.
“Then they contact NELFUND and say we’re about to employ this person and we’re going to start making deductions from their salary to the NELFUND.
“That deduction is 10% of that individual’s salary. At no point is the obligation on the individual to pay back themselves,” Sawyer said.
He also pointed out that those that are unemployed after NYSC are not under obligation to repay the loans while self-employed persons would repay the loans by themselves.
Sawyer pointed out that while the law that established NELFUND does not currently allow it to provide loans for Nigerian students in private higher institutions, President Bola Tinubu is considering extending it to them in the future.
“For now, we only give loans to students of public institutions because the law doesn’t allow us to give loans to private institutions.
Rauf Aregbesola, former minister of interior, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, ex-governor of Kano state, have met in Lagos, to “strategise” ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Aregbesola and Kwankwaso just finished from a marathon meeting in Lagos where they strategised on the 2027 election,” a party source told TheCable.
More to follow…
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Josef Onoh, has said that former President Mohamadu Buhari’s eight years in office were characterised by monumental corruption and insecurity.
Onoh stated this in a statement issued on Friday while responding to Buharis’ claim that Nigeria experienced significant improvements in its security and economy under his tenure.
The former President stated that he inherited a bad economy and security challenges from the Peoples Democratic Party, which was in government for 16 years.
Buhari, however, asserted that his government’s strategies successfully tackled these challenges, curbing terrorism and economic hardship.
Responding to Buhari’s comments, Onoh said the country experienced economic collapse, monumental corruption and insecurity under his watch.
Onoh asserted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is suffering from the consequences of Buhari’s mismanagement of the economy during his eight years in office.
The statement read, “Nigerians today accuse Tinubu’s administration of being the worst they have met without knowing that the President chose to be silent and carry his cross alone without shouting or calling names.
“He continues to navigate the economic minefields the Buhari administration left behind after they failed to frustrate him from becoming the president.
“Under Buhari’s watch, the North East. North Central, South East, South West couldn’t go to sleep in peace. When you assumed office on May 29, 2015, the cumulative number of people killed in Nigeria, according to the NST, was 34,972. But from the day you assumed office, the death figure rose to 98,083 as of May 16, 2023.
“Under your watch as President, 98,083 were killed in 12 years; 27,311 persons were killed in your first term in office; 35,800 were killed between 2019 and May 2023.
“Let me remind General Buhari that Nigeria has never witnessed the level of insecurity witnessed under his administration, not even during the Civil War. Let me refresh your memory with figures of Nigerians killed under your watch: In 2015, 5556; In 2016, 5763l; In 2017, 4618; In 2018, 6565; In 2019, 8340. In 2020, 9694; In 2021, 10575; In 2022, 9079; In 2023, 2921 totalling 63,111.
“You rode on the mantra of change but ended up changing Nigeria for the worst, and after you failed, you turned around to blame PDP your continuous self-assessment begs certain questions: could this stance be a political pretence or stem from a genuine insensitivity which has been your trade mark.”
Onoh said under the Buhari administration, Nigeria was ranked high in the Global Terrorism Index and was ranked low in the Global Peace Index.
He added, “In 2019, under your watch, Nigeria was ranked 3rd below Afghanistan and Iraq out of 138 countries in the Global Terrorism Index and was said to be the 14th most fragile in the world and the 9th in Africa, according to the Fragile States Index. Unsurprisingly, in the same year, our country was also ranked 148th out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index, far below former war-ravaged countries like Sierra Leone (52), Liberia (59) and Rwanda (79).
“Under your watch, attacks and reprisal attacks continued in states like Kaduna with accusations of ethnic cleansing and mismanagement of religious and cultural diversity today. Tinubu’s administration has brought peace to southern Kaduna.
“Your insensitivity and ineffectiveness of your security chiefs were part of the reason for the spread of insecurity that allowed these groups to operate with impunity while you displayed ‘the failure or unwillingness while in authority to address these and other non-state actors and to secure ungoverned spaces, which cumulatively allowed the violence to mutate.”
The APC chieftain also stated that the former president failed to handle the economy and insecurity, which affected the country’s attraction for foreign direct investment.
He added, “On the issue of economy, your failure to handle insecurity created an environment in which Boko Haram extended its operations’. The heightening insecurity continued to impact negatively on the business environment and business flows of our nation during your tenure.
“Under your watch, one of the biggest fish markets in West Africa, located in Baga near the Lake Chad basin in North East Nigeria, has long been abandoned due to the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency and only under Tinubu’s administration has life gradually started coming back.
“Without prejudice, I maintain that in any fair assessment of Buhari’s administration, either by himself or even artificial intelligence, he must take these facts into consideration before giving false credits to his elapsed administration or himself. He should always remember these staggering statistics i have provided clearly have a verifiable impact on the direction of investment decisions, whether foreign or local.
“In the end, it affected both the perception of Nigeria globally and the reality of citizens’ livelihoods in our oil-rich country, which today Tinubu’s administration is paying the price of his ineptitude.
“Finally, one of the greatest legacies the Buhari administration left in the minds of Nigeria as its greatest contribution to the economy was a success story of a recharge card seller turned billionaire overnight and a serving Central Bank governor running for president from the comfort of his office using public funds.
“Your administration yesterday introduced “Ranka ya Dede Nepotism”, today, it’s “Emiloka”, tomorrow it might be “igbo kwenu” and what will be next tomorrow’s catchphrase. Because your 8 years in office was truly the las vegas of insecurity and corruption”.
Mohammed El-Rufai, eldest son of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has said he supports the probe of his father’s administration by the Kaduna State Government, provided it is done with clear, unbiased intent.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Saturday, Mohammed stressed that while accountability is crucial, any probe must focus on uncovering facts rather than settling personal scores.
The lawmaker representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, however, urged that investigations not be used as a political weapon.
“If done for selfish reasons, such inquiries only harm progress,” he said.
Speaking further, Mohammed stated reconciling his father and his successor, Governor Uba Sani, is not his responsibility, saying that the rift between the two is being exaggerated in the media.
Mohammed, however, stated that he was not happy with the ”cold war’ between his father and the governor, considering the role both played in his life.
Emphasising his commitment to serving his constituents, Mohammed stated that his priority is effective governance in his constituency and not mediating in the ongoing rift.
He said, “Some people are delighted, seeing my father and the Governor enmeshed in a conflict, just like the legendary Bollywood actors, Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra fighting.”
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the founder of Love World aka Christ Embassy has opened up on why several gospel musicians, such as Sinach, Joe Praize, Frank Edwards, Eben, and others left his church.
The singers had started their music careers at the Love World before dumping church. Many claimed they left due to restrictions on ministering outside Christ Embassy.
For instance, as Sinach’s international music ministry grew, her presence at Christ Embassy became scarce, which allegedly displeased Oyakhilome.
It is believed that Oyakhilome asked her to return and actively participate in the church’s singing ministry to no avail.
In a viral video, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome explained that he stopped working with the singers because they were no longer celebrating God.
According to Oyakhilome, he tried to get them to change their ways, but they refused and stopped following him. In his words:
“Why did it happen? The church was turned into a party place, not a prayer place where God’s word was truly celebrated…they were not soul winners; they led praise in church, and when it was time for prayers, they were gone.
The church lost its way of worship, everything changed, the music in the church became worldly, they danced for themselves, celebrated themselves not God, they charged for their singing, they became professionals making money from the church….and many pastors didn’t know that this was the world coming into the church.
I did at the beginning and celebrated them but when I changed, they refused to change with me, so I had to let them go; God was getting my attention and saying this is not the way. I told them the Lord wanted us to do the right thing…they had become too popular and because they were making even little money….do they know what big money is? The little money they were making was too attractive to them, so they didn’t want to follow me, so they made a detour….I hope they all repent…..they are not worship leaders.”
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Tragedy struck the people of Abagana Community in Njikoka local government area of Anambra State on Friday, when a 37-year-old man, Anthony Kosisochukwu Okafor sent his elder brother, Mr. Emmanuel Okafor, 45, to his untimely grave.
LEADERSHIP learnt that the sad incident happened at about 7pm on Friday when Anthony and his deceased brother, Emmanuel Okafor, had disagreement over foodstuffs sharing at their Adegbe Village home in Abagana.
It was learnt that the younger Okafor, in a fury of anger during the quarrel between him and his elder brother, pierced the latter’s chest with a stick, resulting to his death.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident on Saturday, disclosing that the younger Okafor has been arrested by a joint security team of the Abagana Police Division and operatives of the state ad-hoc security organisation, Anambra Vigilante Goup (AVG).
Ikenga further revealed that the suspect has confessed to engaging his deceased brother in a fight about foodstuffs consumption.
The Command’s spokesperson said, “The suspect confessed to having engaged the victim in a fight over a heated argument about using foodstuffs in the house. Kosisochukwu was said to have used a stick to pierce the deceased chest.
“The victim was rushed to the hospital and was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.”
The PPRO described the incident as quite disturbing as it highlights the importance of addressing domestic violence and conflicts amongst family members.
Police further emphasised that the incident underscored the need to manage conflicts and emotions in healthy and constructive manners to avoid irreparable consequences.
“The case has been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka and shall be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigation”, the PPRO stated.
Abductors of the former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Retired General Maharazu Tsiga, have demanded a N250 million ransom as a condition for his release.
DAILY POST recalls that Gen Tsiga was kidnapped on Wednesday night following the invasion of his residence in Katsina State by over 100 gunmen.
According to a member representing Bakori/Danja federal constituency Katsina State, Abdullahi Balarabe Dabai, the attackers after surrounding the house, began to break doors, a situation that prompted the general to come out and asked them what they were looking for.
Security operatives had launched a manhunt for his release from the captivity of the assailants.
A source close to the family who preferred anonymity, told Daily Trust on Friday that the family was contacted and N250 million was requested.
The founder of Love World, also known as Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has revealed why some gospel artists left the church.
Prominent singers such as Sinach, Frank Edwards, Joe Praize, and Eben have exited the ministry.
For a long time, speculation surrounded their departures.
Many claimed they left due to restrictions on ministering outside Christ Embassy.
For instance, as Sinach’s international music ministry grew, her presence at Christ Embassy became scarce, which allegedly displeased Oyakhilome.
It is believed that Oyakhilome asked her to return and actively participate in the church’s singing ministry.
In a recent video circulating online, the pastor said: “Why did it happen? The church was turned into a party place, not a place of prayer where God’s word was truly celebrated. They were not soul winners; they led praise in church, and when it was time for prayers, they were gone.”
The cleric further lamented that worship in the church had changed, becoming more about personal celebrations than true worship. He criticised the musicians for commercialising their talents, charging fees for their performances, and allowing secular influences to infiltrate the church’s music.
“I did at the beginning and celebrated them, but when I changed, they refused to change with me, so I had to let them go.
“God was getting my attention, telling me this was not the way. I told them the Lord wanted us to do the right thing.
“They had become too popular, and because they were making even little money… do they know what big money is? The little money they were making was too attractive to them, so they didn’t want to follow me. So they made a detour. I hope they all repent. They are not worship leaders,” he stated.
[Dailypost]
Nigerians seeking accommodation in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, are not having the best of time.
House agents are said to have turned the experience into a nightmare.
Abuja is known for its beautiful landscape, tree-lined boulevards and bustling metropolis. It is the seat of Nigeria’s administrative and political power.
Home to various embassies, government parastatals, private companies and universities, among other amenities like stadiums, hotels and an airport. Abuja embodies the promise of a better life for many migrants who flock to the city in search of greener pastures.
However, findings by DAILY POST revealed that, for those who seek shelter away from home, the dream can quickly turn into a nightmare.
The housing market in Abuja has become a minefield where unsuspecting renters fall victim to the deceitful tactics of housing agents, who exploit their desperation.
The government and private estate developers have not been able to close the gap between supply and demand, resulting in poorly constructed buildings.
Hence, the pressure on infrastructure has overstretched the city, forcing many to the neighbouring states such as Nasarawa and Niger states.
Not only is it a problem to find affordable housing but the cost of a home in Abuja is also way higher than its monetary value, which includes an incredibly long period of hunting and, for most people, the physical and mental stress of choosing between waterlogged estates or a house unreasonably far from their workplace.
However, that is only a tip of the challenge as the road from inspection to final payment is lined with many crooked agents.
DAILY POST gathered that it has become compulsory to pay an inspection fee when searching for an apartment in Abuja.
It has also been reported that they influence house owners into jerking up their rent.
Speaking to DAILY POST, Abdul Abubakar narrated the number of times he was duped by a supposed agent in his quest to get an apartment.
“The number of times I have been scammed is alarming. Some agents have turned this practice into a business, where they collect fees from multiple people under false pretenses.
“On several occasions, I was taken to view an apartment and charged an inspection fee, only to discover that the apartment had already been rented out to someone else.
“Yet, these agents continue to bring apartment seekers to view the property and charge them,” he said.
Also speaking, Mike Okonkwo, who moved to Abuja last year, said he eagerly began his search for a one-bedroom apartment, describing his experience with housing agents as a far cry from what he had expected.
He said, “My worst mistake was allowing my desperation to get the better of me when I eventually paid a commitment fee for a property based solely on the agent’s description and photos.
“It turned out to be a disaster: the property was in a dire state with damp walls and broken facilities in the kitchen and bathroom.”
On her part, Amina Sule bemoaned how house agents have almost become predators feeding fat on their prey, expressing disappointment on how things have turned out in Nigeria.
“It is incredibly disappointing to see how everything in this country becomes an opportunity for scam. Nigerians need to do better.
“I have found myself in several verbal arguments with these scammers. The situation is frustrating, especially when you’re trying to find a place to live and instead, you are met with deceit and exploitation,” she lamented.
According to another victim of house agents exploitation, Kehinde Adeoye, the house market is rife with scams and the house agent is the latest cash cow in Abuja, adding that the lack of regulations governing the housing market in Abuja and its environs has made it easy for the agents to operate with impunity, leaving tenants with little recourse when they are victimised.
Again, Anniefiok Essien, who hails from Akwa-Ibom state but moved to Abuja to earn a living, said his experience with Abuja housing agents had been very unpleasant, revealing that the agents abandoned him to his fate after renting out a two-bedroom apartment in a storey-building with damp walls.
“My experience has been disappointing, to say the least. I moved into my current house six months ago after paying 20 per cent to agents who shared the profit among themselves in my presence.
“My house is in Mararaba and it is a two-bedroomed apartment.
“The rent was N850,000. The agents charged me an additional N150,000 for the house.
“I have yet to recover all that money because they have not fulfilled their promise to me. The kitchen is in bad shape. I have used my money to renovate the house, yet they swore they will use part of the 20 per cent to offset the bills.
“Just last week, after accepting that it is a waste of time waiting for them to fix some of the bad items, I coughed up N30,000 to fix the doors. The caretaker and the agent are all the same.
“During the rainy season last year, the walls got soaked in water. I am talking about a storey-building. God forbid that anything happens,’’ he lamented.
Narrating his own ordeal, Solomon Ogwuche described how desperate Abuja house agents could be, especially insisting to collect inspection or viewing fees.
“I had one agent who gave me a hard time because I refused to view an apartment without first seeing a video of it.
“I didn’t want to waste my time or money on a viewing fee for an apartment I wouldn’t even like. He insisted that I didn’t need to see a video and that I should just come, pay and view it. His attitude changed entirely when I stood my ground, revealing how desperate they are to secure the fee without any genuine service,” he narrated.
Also speaking to DAILY POST is a couple, Judith and Ameh Peter, who said house agents frustrated them immediately they moved to Abuja after their wedding, stating that they also used several apps to find a house in their preferred location.
“Agents built a house ‘on top of our heads.’ When we first came here after our marriage, we had a budget for the kind of house we were looking for but to our shock, it became a tall dream to find one.
“We used several housing apps to find a house targeting our preferred location. First of all, the agents charged us inspection fees. The lowest we paid was N3,500. Imagine paying about three of them daily. Their transportation fare was also on us.
“The annoying part was that many of the agents we met did not take us to the location we agreed on based on pictures and videos. We trusted them since they were from a registered platform.
“But it is either they told us the house key was with the main agent or that they had a better property to show us. At the end of the day, we had to pay outrageous charges to settle down and focus on other things,” the couple concluded.
According to Sunday John, who lent his voice to the house agent exploitation in Nigeria, “These agents are like bloodthirsty sharks, eager to exploit anyone they can.
“If you are seeking an apartment, be very aware and vigilant. It’s essential to protect yourself from being taken advantage of by these unscrupulous individuals.
“The practice of charging inspection fees in Abuja has become a way for housing agents to scam people out of their money.
“It’s vital for Nigerians to stand up against such practices and demand better.”
Ifeyinwa Ubani said she moved to Abuja following her transfer from Asaba, Delta state, explaining that she has been to no fewer than 20 properties before deciding to settle down in Karu, a suburb of Abuja
She said, “I can tell you that I have seen over 20 properties in this city before I finally paid for the present one in Karu.
“The agent charged me 20 per cent which he said included legal fees. Yet, we did not sign any contractual agreement with a lawyer or witness.
“He brought out an old form which required scanty details after I transferred the money to the landlord’s account. I was very disappointed. I had better expectations of Abuja.”
Another resident, Paul Igoche, who shared his horrible experiences with DAILY POST, narrated how six different people showed up when he was about to pay the rent of the apartment he acquired after a painful long search.
“During my house search, one agent decided to help me find a suitable apartment in one of the estates in federal housing, Lugbe.
“We toured many locations around Lugbe to find one. Each time I thought my struggles had come to an end, I realised that I had only just begun.
“Finally, when I was about to seal the accommodation deal, six people showed up, all claiming that they were the main agent.
“One said he had direct contact with the owner, and the other one said she was the one who convinced the landlord to bring down the rent because the facility was old.
“The one I contacted said he brought me to the property and convinced me to pay. It was very embarrassing. Everyone had a stake including those I had never met. You needed to see the entourage of agents that followed me,” he added.
On his part, Michael Akor said the gross illegalities being perpetrated by the middlemen (agents) have continued to bite potential tenants hard in their search for apartments in Abuja and its neighbouring localities.
Akor said their activities range from extortion of a high amount of money from potential tenants as agent fees and inspection fees, defrauding the potential tenants of their money without giving them a house, and sometimes, kidnapping the potential tenants.
“As a concerned citizen and a former victim of the current wave of illegalities of the house agents, I am lending my voice on the issue.
“The extortion has made acquisition of houses by tenants within the places under consideration a Herculean and risky venture, especially for low income earners.
“The high vulnerability of people to the fraudulent outings of these agents need to be looked into.
“A one-room self-contained house that used to be N70-80,000 around Mararaba now goes for between N250-350,000. On a normal level, the house owner charges N150,000, but the agents end up inflating it to N250-300,000. Some potential tenants get kidnapped in the process or get defrauded,” he stated.
He urged the government to take proactive measures to curtail the ugly trend by clamping down on the house agents to halt the illegality.
“There should be proper and favourable housing rules which should be tailored towards curtailing the excesses of house owners and agents.
“The agents and house owners should be strictly monitored to operate within the ambit of the law through proper license and certification.
“Potential tenants should also be highly cautious and put excess desperation aside when looking for a house.
“This will reduce their vulnerability to the fraudulent intentions of house agents and house owners.
“On this, payment should be made only after an intensive verification of the authentic details of the house.
“The government should also intensify its effort in providing affordable houses to low income earners through housing schemes,” he concluded.
[DailyPost]