Civil servants resident in Awka, Anambra State have raised the alarm over outrageous house rent in the capital city.
They said securing a comfortable and affordable house has become a source of worry, regretting that the situation had compelled most of them to relocate to hinterlands where they could afford their rent and meet other household needs.
They appealed to State Government to regulate house rent in the capital city and provide an affordable housing scheme for low income earners to alleviate their sufferings.
One of them, Mrs Ifeyinwa Eze said provision of affordable housing scheme for an average civil servant would go a long way to cushioning the economic impact on the workers in view of the high cost of living in the country.
She said, “Few years ago, a good two bedroom apartment in the area was going for N200,000 or N250,000, but today, the same apartment is going for between N400,000 to N600, 000, while three bedroom apartment is above N600,000.”
Mr. Chinedu Uyalor, a staff of the State House of Assembly, lamented that current hike in house rent in Awka was beyond reach of most civil servants as it takes almost their annual income.
He urged the State House of Assembly to enact law that would regulate house rent in the state.
On his part, a landlord in Awka, Chief Chuks Anekwe blamed the hike in rent on high cost of building materials and greed on the part of some landlords whose only source of income is their commercial buildings.
Reacting, Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development in Anambra State, Hon. Pauli Onyeka urged Ndi Anambra, particularly civil servants to exercise patience as plans were underway to build over 2000 affordable housing units at Isiagu, Awka South Local Government Area for low income earners to give them a sense of belonging.
He maintained that the Soludo administration is committed to building a livable and prosperous mega city for Ndi Anambra and would construct a more affordable housing estate of international standard to meet their housing needs.