The price at which house agents, in conjunction with landlords and landladies, give out their houses in Enugu today is quite alarming.

The issue of accommodation is something the government should show interest in, because a good number of residents are finding it hard to cope with paying the huge house rents largely because many are living from hand-to-mouth and can barely feed.

For some years now, the cost of housing in Enugu has been very high. It’s true that the cost of building materials is not for the faint-hearted, but getting a place to rest one’s head is becoming an uphill task in the city.

A public affairs analyst, Samuel Ugochukwu is asking the state house of Assembly to show interest in this regard.

Mr. Ugochukwu urged the house to make a law that will regulate the cost of house rents in the state.

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“House owners should be made to stick to reasonable house rents that the people can afford no matter the class they belong to”.

An entrepreneur, Kelvin Onovo, said the
government can also try to build low-cost houses for citizens which should be made accessible to everyone. He advised that private estate developers springing up everywhere around the state should be strictly monitored, as many of them are robbing people of their hard-earned money despite the hardship being faced already.

Onovo is also calling on governor Peter Mba of the state to send an executive bill to the state Assembly that will harmonise the rents and streamline the activities of house Agents who often demand more than 50% of the house rents itself from potential tenants.

No doubt, many people are changing their habitation due to increase in house rents, shop rents as well as office rents.

To get a two bedroom apartment in GRA, Independence layout, Ogui Rd, New Haven or Uwani will cost not less than between N500,000 and N550,000 per annum. If you add the percentage for agents, lawyer fee and caution fee sometimes, it may get to as high as one million naira.

In areas like Agbani Rd, Emene, Abakpa, Obiagu and Coal Camp, one may see two bedroom apartment that goes for N300,000 – N350,000 per annum. You can get a room and parlour self-contained apartment for N250,000,
These prices are devoid of the agent fees and the rest. How would the ordinary masses cope?

Worst is, only few workers will be able to afford living in a reasonably decent apartment owing to the current hard time.

A landlord who spoke to Daily Gazette correspondent on the condition of anonymity said he just increased his house rent from N150,000 to N280,000. “It is not the landlord’s fault that getting an apartment is cumbersome. They are house owners with the intention of making money.”

Many landlords fail to even acknowledge the fact that as much as they own their houses, the tenants also have some rights according to the law.

Some of them make outrageous rules like “no generator from a certain time of the day till another time, no visitors and many other inhumane rules.

With the high cost of feeding, the priority of most homes is to place food on their table, provide other necessities like clothing and education for the children, before talking about having enough to ‘save’ for other essential needs.

It is time for the government to act !

Aluagbo with Lawmaker representing Isiuzo constituency at the Enugu state House of Assembly Hon. Gabriel Eze

Report has emerged that the Councilor representing Umualor Ward in Isi-Uzo legislative house, Hon. Maxwell Aluagbo, was denied his wardrobe allowance for attending the inauguration of his brother who is the member representing Isi-Uzo constituency in Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Gabriel Lebechi Eze of the Labour Party.

Hon. Aluagbo was shocked when he learnt that 10 out of the 11 councilors in Isi-Uzo local government area have received their wardrobe allowance, leaving only him.

Investigation by Daily Gazette revealed that Maxwell Aluagbo became aware of the development when the leader of Isi-Uzo legislative council, Hon. Irenus Nnaji, informed members to write letter of acknowledgment of payment of wardrobe allowance and also to pay contribution for a thank you visit to the Executive Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, for paying their wardrobe allowance.

“When I curiously enquired why my own wardrobe allowance has not been paid, I was told that the order is from Government House, Enugu” Aluagbo said.

Efforts by members and the leader of Isi-Uzo legislative council to convince Maxwell Aluagbo to write acknowledgment letter for the payment of the wardrobe allowance failed as he told them plainly that he will not write acknowledgment for payment he did not receive.

Is the honourable member representing Isi-Uzo constituency only representing Labour Party members that even his own brother should not attend his inauguration because he is a councilor in PDP led government?

As at the time of filling this report, efforts made by Daily Gazette correspondent to reach out to the executive chairman of Isiuzo local council area, Hon. Obiora Obeagu was fruitless as he was not taking his calls.

..Enjoin them to remain steadfast and law abiding as full trial commences at the tribunal

Labour Party Governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections in Enugu state, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga has applauded voters across all political parties, supporters and massive followers of the Presidential candidate of the Party, Peter Obi known as Obidients for their continuos support and solidarity since after the election and in his quest to recover his stolen mandate at the Election Petitions Tribunal holden in Enugu.

Edeoga made this commendation on Tuesday in his verified Twitter handle, urging them to be law abiding as the full trial commences at the Tribunal.

“I sincerely appreciate the support Ndi-Enugu and the Obidient family have given me and our great party @Ng Labour since the beginning of the electoral tribunal”

“As we head into the trial itself, I urge you to abide by the law as always and follow the process keenly.
Daalu nu.”

Daily Gazette recall that the Labour Party governorship candidate had gone to Court to challenge the outcome of the election over substantial non compliance with the 2022 electoral act.

Barr. Edeoga

According to Barr. Edeoga, Peter Mbah of the People’s Democratic party, PDP, was at the time of the election not constitutionally qualified to seek for election to the office of governor having presented forged NYSC certificate to INEC in contravention of section 182(1)(J) of the constitution. He is also challenging INEC’s declaration of Peter Mbah as winner of the governorship election without polling majority of valid votes as stipulated by law, among other issues.

Edeoga said he is confident that the Court will once again prove that it is the last hope of the common man.

Chief of Staf to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila has said that no man can carry the weight of Nigeria alone, except with the help of God.

Gbajabiamila stated this while speaking on Wednesday after the Eid al-Adha prayer in Lagos.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives implored Nigerians to always pray for Tinubu.

“It is a difficult time for Nigeria but we will turn that corner. What the president needs from you today and tomorrow is your prayer.

“The weight of Nigeria is not the weight any normal or ordinary human being can carry except with the help of Almighty Allah.

“It is evident therefore that Almighty Allah is with our president. He is carrying the weight for him,” Gbajabiamila said.

The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd), has officially pulled out of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

He bowed out at a ceremony held at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja, on Friday.

The pullout ceremony is part of the military tradition to honour retiring generals. The event involved a march past by the officers of the Nigerian Army among others.

Past Chiefs of Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Staff, among others, attended the event.

Irabor was appointed CDS in January 2021 and retired alongside others on June 19, following the appointment of new service chiefs by President Bola Tinubu.

Labour Party Governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections in Enugu state, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga, has felicitated with Muslim faithfuls on the celebration of this year’s Eid-El-Kabir, urging them to use the occasion to strengthen the bonds of nationhood.

Barr. Edeoga in his verified Twitter handle, admonished them to imbibe the virtues of love, tolerance and harmony as advocated by the teaching of Prophet Muhammad.

He said there is need for Nigerians to always co-exist peacefully and work towards the sustenance of the country’s unity in the interest of the nation.

“I join all Muslim faithful in Enugu and across the world in celebrating Eid-El Kabir.
May this year’s celebration strengthen the brotherly love we have amongst us and further consolidate our unity and peaceful coexistence.
Do have a fantastic celebration.
Barka da Sallah.”

He also called on Muslim faithful not to forget the lesson of sacrifice which the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir symbolises and asked them to reflect on the values of love, and unity.