Residents in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, are raising the alarm over the skyrocketing cost of house rents, which many say is swallowing up a huge chunk of their monthly earnings. The situation has become a major source of concern for both civil servants and traders who are struggling to find affordable roofs over their heads in an increasingly expensive market.
A recent survey by Repports shows that a basic one-bedroom flat in the city now goes for anywhere between N150,000 and N200,000 per year. For those looking for more space, a two-bedroom apartment can cost between N300,000 and N500,000, depending on how close the property is to the city center. These rising figures are being blamed on the high price of construction materials and a steady influx of people moving into the state capital, which has far outpaced the available housing supply.
The reality on the ground is biting hard for people like Suleiman Muhammed, a federal worker who recently moved to Jalingo from Bauchi. After being posted to the ATC area, he found himself paying N300,000 for a two-bedroom flat—a sharp contrast to the N170,000 he paid for similar accommodation in his previous station. For many like him, the price gap between Jalingo and other northern cities is difficult to justify.
Business owners are not spared either. Yahuza Lawal, a trader who relocated from Kano, shared his ordeal with Reports, explaining that he pays N120,000 for a single room in Magami and another N150,000 annually for a shop along the busy Hammaruwa Road. He lamented that the current economic climate, combined with these high overheads, has made it incredibly tough to provide for his family. The housing crisis is even forcing families apart; Mr. Joseph Gabriel, another civil servant, revealed that he had to leave his family behind in Gombe because the cost of bringing them to Jalingo was simply beyond his reach.
Industry insiders suggest that a lack of government intervention is at the heart of the problem. A source within the Taraba State Ministry of Works, who requested to remain anonymous, told Reports that the severe shortage of government quarters has left workers at the mercy of private landlords. The official noted that successive governments in the state have failed to prioritize staff housing, leading to a desperate scramble for the few private apartments available. Until new housing projects are commissioned, the pressure on Jalingo’s rental market is likely to remain high.
