By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in collaboration with the Joint Campus Council, Anambra State Axis on Thursday stormed the Anambra State House of Assembly Complex to protest increase in rent and agency fees across student host communities in the state.

The protesting students described the situation as not just unjust but exploitative.

They urged the State Assembly to urgently intervene and introduce regulations to curb arbitrary charges imposed by landlords and agents across board.

Addressing the students on behalf of the Speaker, the Majority Leader and member representing Ekwusigo Constituency, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme, hailed the students for adopting a peaceful and lawful approach in presenting their grievances.

He assured them that the House was already taking legislative steps to address the issue, noting that the burden of rising rents extends beyond students to parents and guardians.

He said: "The Eighth Assembly has commenced work on a bill aimed at tackling the excesses in the housing sector affecting students. I urge you to remain calm as efforts are underway to resolve the matter.

On his part, the member representing Aguata I Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Anayo Okpalaeke, reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to ensuring a swift resolution of the crisis.

While giving assurance that the Legislature will act decisively within a short timeframe to resolve the issue, the lawmaker expressed optimism that the concerns raised by the protesting students would soon become a thing of the past.

Earlier in his speech, the NANS Chairman in the state, Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Chukwuemeka, said the protest was driven by the need to safeguard the welfare of students living in host communities of tertiary institutions across Anambra.

He regretted that landlords and agents operate in the state without regulation, supervision, or accountability, adding that their practice is arbitrary, oppressive, and detrimental to both students and their families.

He said: "We are here to appeal to the legislature to enact laws that will regulate and standardize rent in student communities, as well as fix reasonable and uniform agency fees,” he said.

The students further stressed that only a comprehensive legal framework would bring lasting relief and sanity to the housing sector affecting thousands of undergraduates in the state.