By Kelvin Ololo
As the cost of food, transportation and other basic needs continues to place enormous pressure on households, the struggle to secure affordable accommodation has become another painful burden for many residents of Calabar, where frequent and steep increases in house rents are forcing families to confront fresh uncertainty.
The Cross River State Commissioner for Lands, Hon. Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, has appealed to landlords across the state to show compassion and restraint by reconsidering excessive increases in house rents.
Ekpang made the appeal in a video shared on the official Facebook page of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Cross River State on Public Advocacy, Friday Awade.
The Commissioner warned that the rising cost of accommodation, particularly at a time when many families are struggling to afford food and other necessities, could further deepen the hardship confronting residents.
“There is enough suffering in the land already,” Ekpang said.
His appeal comes amid growing concerns over what many tenants describe as arbitrary and frequent rent increments by landlords in parts of Calabar, where some residents are already struggling to meet basic household expenses.
For many families, the expiry of a rent agreement is increasingly accompanied by anxiety over whether they can afford a proposed increase or would be forced to leave a home they have occupied for years.
The Commissioner urged property owners to consider the welfare of their tenants and adopt a more humane approach to tenancy and rent matters, noting that the economic difficulties facing residents require understanding and restraint.
He said landlords should see their properties not only as investments but also as homes occupied by individuals and families who deserve dignity, security and stability.
Ekpang specifically appealed to landlords to avoid arbitrary rent hikes and give reasonable consideration to tenants during the current economic challenges.
The Commissioner’s intervention brings renewed attention to the widening gap between the rising cost of living and the earning capacity of many workers, traders and low-income families, particularly as irregular rent increments continue to add to the financial pressure on households in Calabar.
While landlords face their own challenges, including inflation, building maintenance and rising property costs, the burden of sudden and excessive rent increases often falls on tenants with little room to adjust their income or household budgets.
The Commissioner’s appeal therefore reflects a broader call for social responsibility at a time when the economic struggle has already pushed many families to their limits.
For residents facing the uncertainty of another rent increase, the question is not merely about paying for a building. It is about survival, stability and the difficult search for a place they can still afford to call home.
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