Agent Extortion: Delta Assembly to Regulate Rent Increases

The Delta State House of Assembly has announced plans to introduce a bill aimed at regulating rent increases and ensuring more affordable housing for residents.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, disclosed this today, during a press conference held in Asaba as part of events marking the close of the Second Session and the second anniversary of the 8th Assembly.

Guwor said the move was necessary in response to growing concerns over rising house rents across the state.

According to the Speaker, the proposed legislation is a direct response to widespread complaints from constituents, particularly in urban centers such as Asaba, Warri, Sapele, and Ughelli, where rent hikes have become a major challenge for low and middle-income earners.

“We cannot ignore the cries of our people who are being priced out of decent accommodation,” Rt. Hon. Guwor stated. “This Assembly is determined to bring relief through legislative action that protects both tenants and landlords while promoting fair housing policies.”

He revealed that the bill, titled “A Bill to Regulate House Rent in Delta State,” is sponsored by the House Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, and 27 other members, and has already been listed for first reading.

The Speaker emphasized that the Assembly would engage relevant stakeholders, including the state Ministry of Housing, real estate developers, landlords’ associations, and civil society groups, to ensure the proposed bill is balanced, effective, and enforceable.

The rent control bill is expected to be tabled in the next legislative session, with many Deltans hopeful it will bring much-needed stability to the housing sector.