Enough is Enough! Oyo Government Moves to Stop “Agent Extortion” and Control High House Rents

Residents of Oyo State may soon breathe a sigh of relief as the state government begins a major crackdown on greedy house agents and the “unreasonable” hike in house rents across the state.

Following a meeting in Ibadan on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the government officially engaged the leadership of the Estate Rent and Commission Agents’ Association to fix the “wild west” nature of the state’s housing market. The move comes as many tenants complain of being forced to pay massive commissions and “illegal” inspection fees just to see a potential apartment.

The Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, made it clear that while the government might not tell a landlord exactly how much to charge for his property, it has every right to regulate the way that rent is collected and how agents operate.

“We are not just going to sit back and watch people get cheated,” the Commissioner stated. He revealed that the State House of Assembly is already working on a new law that will finally give the government the “teeth” to punish agents who cross the line.

Interestingly, the agents themselves seem to be on board. The Chairman of the Association, Hon. Mutahir Okekunle, admitted that “bad eggs” in the business have been using abolished fees to exploit the public. He noted that because more people are moving to Oyo State due to better security, the demand for houses has gone up, giving some agents the excuse to charge whatever they want.

The government has now tasked the association to bring their own suggestions to the table. These ideas will be used to create a formal “rulebook” that will ensure tenants are protected, agents are registered, and the housing market in Oyo State becomes fair for everyone.