Edith CHUKU
The 1.4 kilometers dilapidated Lovers Road which was rehabilitated by the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, has proven to be a double-edged sword
While landlords continue to benefit from NDDC’s intervention which also brought about the installation of solar streets light, to most tenants, the development has become a burden, following the incessant rise in house and shop rents.
The road which connects Rumuchiorlu Community with the second market end of Eneka Clan, in the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, was in comatoes for about 29 years.
Persistently, residents and motorists called on the state government, particularly the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area Chairman, seeking immediate intervention to fix the road which was impassable as at that time.
In June, 2025, NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, awarded the contract for the construction of the 1.4 kilometers road to the contractor, Westpac Engineering Group.
Ogbuku went ahead to approve the installation of solar lights for the roads which had been a death trap to motorists, slowing down economic activities in the areas.
As soon as the project was finished, tenants started receiving rent increase notices along with warnings to either accept the new terms or vacate the premises.
TNN visited the area on Sunday and spoke with some tenants and a landlord.
A tenant, Mr Samuel Okwuchukwu narrated that, “to increase rate here na normal thing now. Since wey this road good, na so them dey increase rent, yes that’s what they do.
“Compared to before it’s very high. Like if you were paying N300,000 before, they increased it to N450,000. It’s really high.
“We know that because of the road and solar lights the rent will not be the same but the way they are doing it is not good. This is road that NDDC did, they should not suffer us like this.”
A tailor, Mr Ifeanyi Onyeweife, described the increment as outrageous, even as he commended his landlord for treating him as family.
According to him, “the increment na because there is road now, development. Someone told you he is paying N450,000 now for self contain, it’s cheaper, do you know how much some persons are paying?
“I won’t talk bad against my landlord and landlady. Since I entered there I am like son to them, they don’t treat me like others.
“I won’t lie to you, landlords are increasing seriously and everybody is increasing the way they want to increase it on their own.”
In his response, a landlord, Mr Samuel Chioloji, said, “the reason we increased it is because of the development, the good thing that happened in our road; the road rehabilitation and light installation, so, we saw the need to increase the rent, so, we thank NDDC for what they did for us.
“One room was N60,000, now it’s N80,000. Self contain before, I was collecting N180,000, N200,000, but now, self contain is N400,000 and even some landlords are collecting N450,000, N500,000.
“This is development and everyone is happy, our tenants are complying happily, so, there is no issue at all.”
