Landlords cry out over exorbitant tenancy fees in Kano

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

 

The Landlords/Caretakers Association, Kano, has lamented exorbitant tenancy fees and multiple taxation being imposed on them by both the authorities of  Fagge Local Government Area and Kano state government, through the Ministry of Land.

In a terse Press Statement signed by the chairman and secretary of the Association, Chief Basil Ulasi and Comrade Kunle Johnson Ogunleye, they appealed to the state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf and other relevant authorities to quickly intervene, before the situation gets out of hand.

The landlords and caretakers pointedly accused Fagge Local Government Area and the Kano state Ministry of Land of  working against the dictates of Kano state Land Act, to the detriments of landlords and tenants in the ancient commercial city of Kano.

According to them, the government’s unpopular Sledge Harmer concentrated, largely, in Sabon Gari, an enclave predominantly dominated by non-natives.

“We have been paying tenancy fees and rates to Fagge Local Government Area on mutual understanding, without hassles, over the years.

“The tenancy rates and fees were below N5000, until 2024 when they increased to N15, 000 for downstairs and N20, 000 for upstairs  per annum. We complied and paid without complaining.

“But to our consternation, in 2025, they brought some individuals, posing as consultants to Fagge Local Government Area, under the normanclature of AAJ Consultancy Firm, who hiked the tenancy rates and fees to over N1 million,” the Statement said.

The Kano landlords and caretakers also accused the state Ministry of Land of exploitation and multiple taxation.

The Statement further stated that, “the state Ministry of Land through what they call Kanjis also demand over N1.6 annual rates and fees from landlords on the same property the Fagge Local Government Area is collecting tenancy rates and fees.”

The Association, however, appealed to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and other relevant authorities to quickly intervene before the situation snowball into anarchy.

“Everybody is aware of the biting economic hardship in the country. Nigerians of all cadres are suffering. The landlords, caretakers and tenants are not finding things easy. An injury to the landlords is also an injury to the tenants.

“If these injustice is left unchecked, tenants, and indeed, innocent Nigerians will bear the avoidable consequences. Therefore, there is a nagging need for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to intervene without delay,” the Statement added.