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 SOCIETAL WATCH 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.
SOCIETAL WATCH 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.
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.
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.
