‘This Is Exploitation’: OAU Students Cry Out Over Rising House Rent In Ile-Ife

• By Abdulfattah Robiu

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have expressed frustration over what they described as the exploitative practices of house agents and caretakers who charge exorbitant fees for accommodation in areas surrounding the institution.

The students lamented that the agents are taking advantage of the high demand for housing by inflating rent prices and demanding outrageous consultancy fees.

Many fresh students, unfamiliar with the environment, say they have no choice but to pay these excessive charges, given the limited number of affordable accommodation options.

Speaking with Osun Defender, Arogundade Abdul Lateef, a Part 1 student, narrated his ordeal in securing a place to stay.

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“Despite arriving early in Ife on my resumption day, I couldn’t get an accommodation because the agents were demanding fees far beyond my budget. I had to spend the night in a hotel before I was fortunate to find a good Samaritan who helped me secure a house at a reasonable rate,” he recounted.

Another student, who preferred to remain anonymous, decried the situation, saying, “I was asked to pay ₦10,000 as a consultancy fee for a self-contained room that costs ₦200,000. This is pure exploitation. We are already struggling to afford school expenses, yet these agents and caretakers are making things worse.”

Afolabi Toluwalase, another affected student, shared a similar experience. “I had to share a room with someone I didn’t know just to afford a place to stay because the caretaker’s charges were beyond my means. It would be better if we could deal directly with landlords instead of going through these middlemen,” she stated.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that the growing accommodation crisis in Ile-Ife has continued to be a major concern for students, with many calling on the school management and relevant authorities to intervene.

They urged landlords to reconsider their reliance on agents who exploit students under the guise of consultancy fees.

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