Residents of most communities in Port Harcourt have blamed internet fraudsters popularly known as “Yahoo-Yahoo boys” and agents over the incessant increase of house and shop rents in the areas, while calling on the state and local government to intervene by regulating rent charge.
Speaking with TPCN during a vox pop on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the residents expressed dismay that the persistent increment had become unbearable as most of them are unable to renew their rents.
Describing themselves as low income earners, the residents lamented that surviving in Port Harcourt had become difficult following the high cost of food items, transportation, rents and personal needs.
They blamed house agents over what they described as unjustly adding 20 per cent to the actual house rent as their gain, while accusing yahoo boys for being the reason house rent was skyrocket.
In Eneka Community of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, Mrs. Hope Vincent said, “It is really frustrating because me and my husband have been looking for house for like two months now. Not that we have not seen but the thing is very high, very expensive. Self Contain, old house they said N350,000 for self Contain.
“If you enter NDDC road in this first market you will cry. There is self Contain there for N600,000 and one bedroom flat for one point two million naira. Enter NDDC road where you have the new market.
“I blame the landlord, agent and yahoo boys. Yes, landlord is busy increasing rent for old house, he want to use money from old house to build mansion and train his children. If you ask they say Nigeria is hard, things are expensive they don’t even care about you that is paying the money.
“Agents self are worse. You rent house N500,000, agent money is N100,000, you will pay drinking money N20,000, Tenant agreement levy N50,000, we are really suffering, how much is salary, my salary is N50,000, even if I don’t eat in a whole year I will not have this money.”
Proffering solution to the challenge, she appealed that, “government should help us, the way they have task force in market, they should have task force that will be handling this thing. Yahoo boys are commiting evil, dubbing people, not everyone is doing yahoo to have that kind of money, government should please help us.”
Also speaking, a house owner, Mr Paul Azubuike in Rumuokwurusi explained that, “it’s not the fault of the landlord, building materials now; cement ooo, sand, wood, zinc, talk more of rod, everything is expensive.
“No, not that we are building another house with the money but just so that we can maintain and renovate when due, also, it is not a bad thing that a particular house will give birth to another house.
“Nigeria is getting worse, enter market, you cannot good any good food with N10, N15 thousand naira, you are a woman, you know what I am saying. Some of us, that house is our only work and investment in this whole world, so, anyone that cannot pay for self contain should go for one room, if one room is too expensive then go for self contain and let me also say that rent differs, what they pay here, houses along the road is different from what you will pay for houses inside the street, anyhow we will survive.”
Another tenant, Mr Obediah Wenekoro condemned the actions of agents, noting that, “I am not against what agents are doing, it’s their work, they have to be paid but I think they are over doing it. An agent that is living with his house and five children in one small room inside the bush where he pays N4,000 monthly will be demanding 200,000 from you with open eye.
“They should bring it down, it is outrageous I tell you. Agents are the main problem we are having. Well, for yahoo boys, landlords are cashing out through them while hardworking people are suffering and struggling to survive.”
Wogu Benita who was among those who spoke with our correspondent further called on government to regulate rent charges, especially in Port Harcourt.
