Housing deficit is causing untold hardship on the people of Kogi State amid the present economic hardship in the country, reports reads.
Kogi, which shares boundaries with about 10 states in the country, is hosting the popular River Niger and River Benue.
The strategic location of the state has made people settle down quickly since it was created in 1991 under the then Military regime of General Ibrahim Badamisi Babangida.
The issues of housing before now were a little bit fair for both the indigenes and civil servants working with the Federal and the State governments.
Unfortunately, it is now a nightmare for people who do not have their own house to get accommodation.
Some governors built houses for civil servants to ameliorate their sufferings.
Recall that during the then military administration of Colonel Paul Omeruo, (9th December 1993 – August 22 1996), he built Adankolo Estate, Colonel Augustine Aniebo, (August 1998 – May 1999) built what is now known as Aniebo Quarters, which is housing more than 300 Civil Servants both serving and retired in Kogi State.
Additionally, during the Civilian regime of Late Prince Abubakar Audu, (May 29th 1999 – May 29 2003) workers heaved a sign of relief concerning accommodation problem as his administration built first and second 200 housing units, Lokongoma Phase one, and two, Workers village, legislative quarters, while Ibrahim Idris, (May 29 2003 – 6th February, 2008) built 500 housing units and Captain Idris Ichalla Wada built flood estate for people affected by the 2012 flood in Kogi State.
The immediate past administration did not build housing estate for workers.
Reports also observed that recently that a single room that used to be N40,000 depending on the area now goes for N80,000 to N100,000.
Also, one room and parlour self contain that is usually given out by landlords for N120,000 to N150,000 is now going for N350,000 to N450,000.
House rent for two and three bedroom flat is above N600,000 which is out of the reach of civil servants and other low income earners in the State.