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Worldnews

How Will Harvard And Other Universities Survive Trumps Funding Cuts?
~7.5 mins read
Harvard is suing the Trump administration over federal funding cuts that it says put critical research at risk. On Monday, Harvard University sued US President Donald Trump’s administration to halt the freezing of $2.3bn in federal funding for the institution. The funding freeze came amid US government efforts to crack down on student protesters and pressure universities into dropping diversity, equity and inclusion programmes. On March 10, the US Department of Education announced it had sent letters to 60 higher education institutions, warning them of “enforcement actions” if they did not protect Jewish students on campus as stipulated in the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The letters also quoted Secretary of Education Linda McMahon saying, “US colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by US taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal anti-discrimination laws.” Shortly after, the Trump administration began freezing federal funding for some of the country’s top institutions, threatening research that universities say is critical for medical and scientific advancement. In particular, the Trump administration is targeting institutions where students participated in pro-Palestine protests last year, alleging that the student protesters spread anti-Semitic sentiment on campus. A day after Harvard filed its lawsuit, leaders and representatives of more than 200 American universities issued a joint statement accusing the Trump administration of political interference. The statement was signed by presidents and directors of some of the top-tier institutes in the country, including Princeton, Brown, Harvard, Columbia, Northwestern University and Pomona College. So, what is going on in terms of federal funding on US campuses, and can universities survive these cuts? On April 11, the US Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration co-signed a letter to Harvard claiming that “Harvard has in recent years failed to live up to both the intellectual and civil rights conditions that justify federal investment.” The letter made a series of demands of the university, including that the institution end all affirmative action in faculty hiring and student admissions, and that it change its admissions criteria to exclude international students “hostile to the American values”, including “students supportive of terrorism or anti-Semitism”. This was a follow-up to a separate letter the government had sent Harvard on April 3, demanding that the university reform any academic departments deemed to be fuelling “antisemitic harassment”. These departments, the letter said, “must be reviewed and necessary changes made to address bias, improve viewpoint diversity, and end ideological capture”. In response, Harvard rejected the demands, saying that while some demands were aimed at targeting anti-Semitism, “the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the ‘intellectual conditions’ at Harvard.” Hours after Harvard rejected the demands, an Education Department task force to tackle anti-Semitism released a statement announcing that $2.3bn in federal funding to the university had been frozen. Harvard’s president, Alan Garber, and fellows of Harvard College have now filed a lawsuit (PDF) in the US District Court in Massachusetts against leaders of the US Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, General Services Administration, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In a statement issued on Monday, Garber wrote: “We filed a lawsuit to halt the funding freeze because it is unlawful and beyond the government’s authority.” The suit says that “the federal Government has launched a broad attack on the critical funding partnerships” which make it possible for Harvard and other American universities to carry out “invaluable research” in the fields of medicine, engineering and artificial intelligence (AI) which is crucial for finding solutions for space travel and for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and cancer, among other things. The lawsuit also alleges that the funding freeze is unlawful because it infringes on First Amendment rights, which guarantee the freedom of speech. “This case involves the Government’s efforts to use the withholding of federal funding as leverage to gain control of academic decision-making at Harvard,” the lawsuit states. The Tuesday joint statement co-signed by hundreds of American university leaders states: “We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding.” The frozen federal funds to Harvard include $2.2bn in grants and $60m in contracts. However, more money is at stake. In March, the Trump administration announced that it would review $9bn of funding to Harvard. The administration has also threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax exempt status and its ability to enrol foreign students. In the Monday statement, Garber also wrote that the Trump administration has considered taking steps to freeze an additional $1bn in grants. In February, the Trump administration froze $400m of funding to Columbia University, which emerged as the epicentre of pro-Palestine campus protests in 2024. The government cited what it called the institution’s “failure to protect Jewish students from anti-Semitic harassment”. On March 19, Trump froze more than $175m in federal funding to his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, citing the allowance of transgender women to play women’s sports. Some universities have reported receiving “stop work” orders, which are instructions to suspend all work on specific research projects supported by public funding. “American universities receive two main funding sources from the federal government. The first is financial aid for students, which flows to thousands of colleges. The second is research funding, which is heavily concentrated at about 200 universities,” Robert Kelchen, a professor and department head at the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, told Al Jazeera. “The American government has relied on universities to conduct research to benefit the country since World War II, and universities have built an infrastructure around that. The magnitude of American research funding has been unmatched around the world during this period,” said Kelchen. Cornell University said it had received more than 75 “stop work” orders from the US Department of Defense, according to a statement released by Cornell President Michael I Kotlikoff and other university leaders on April 8. The orders sent to Cornell relate to “research into new materials for jet engines, propulsion systems, large-scale information networks, robotics, superconductors, and space and satellite communications, as well as cancer research”, the university said. The statement did not specify the amount of federal funding the projects subject to stop work orders were receiving. It also did not say why the government had issued these orders. Northwestern University has also received stop work orders relating to roughly 100 federal grants, the university’s President Michael Schill and Chair of Board of Trustees Peter Barris wrote in a statement on Northwestern University’s website on April 17. Earlier in April, US media outlets reported that the Trump administration had separately frozen more than $1bn in federal funding to Cornell University and $790m in funding to Northwestern University. The New York Times and CNN both claimed that an unnamed White House official had confirmed these funding freezes. “The money was frozen in connection with several ongoing, credible, and concerning Title VI investigations,” the official was quoted by CNN as saying. However, both Cornell and Northwestern say they have not received notification of these funding freezes. Many universities have sizeable endowment funds from which they can draw income each year to support research projects, scholarships and other expenses. An endowment is a series of funds or assets donated to a university to ensure that the institution is financially sustained in the future. Charitable donations from alumni, other donors and companies make up a huge part of endowments. Harvard’s endowment was worth approximately $53.2bn in the 2024 fiscal year – the largest of any university. More than one-third of the research at Harvard is funded directly by the university, according to Harvard’s website. Columbia’s endowment was $14.8bn for the fiscal year ending in June 2024. Cornell’s endowment was about $10.7bn in the fiscal year ending in June 2024. Northwestern University’s endowment amounted to approximately $14.3bn in 2024. University of Pennsylvania’s endowment was $22.3bn as of June 2024. Some universities will be able to fall back on these endowments if federal funding freezes remain in place. “Universities typically spend about 5 percent per year out of their endowment, which provides funding for the Harvards of the world to make up for a loss of federal funding,” said Kelchen. Endowments are subject to restrictions, however. “Endowment funds are heavily concentrated at a few dozen universities, and roughly three-fourths of all endowment funds are restricted for particular purposes,” Kelchen said, explaining that such purposes include student scholarships in very specific fields. At Harvard, donors decide which programmes, departments and purposes 70 percent of the annual endowment distribution is spent on. Columbia’s website also states that the annual spending of the endowment is according to the wishes of the donors. Universities have also seen a fall in the value of endowments. In 2024, Harvard’s donations dropped by $151m after some donors pulled funding from the university over the pro-Palestine protests and the university’s response to concerns about anti-Semitism on campus, according to an October 2024 report by the student-run newspaper, the Harvard Crimson. Kelchen said that a few research universities may be able to make it through a period of several years without federal funding. In its April 17 statement, for example, Northwestern University’s leadership wrote that for now, the university will continue to fund the research projects that are subject to stop work orders from the government. “This support is intended to keep these projects going until we have a better understanding of the funding landscape.” Most universities will not be able to afford to this. Some, therefore, are acceding to government demands. After receiving its own list of demands from the government on March 13, Columbia, for example, accepted these demands on March 18 and introduced new policies on campus. These new policies require protesting students to present their university identification if asked to do so. They also prohibit face masks intended to conceal a person’s identity. However, face coverings are still allowed for religious or medical reasons. Columbia also hired 36 security officers who have special powers to arrest students, and the university continues to rely on New York police for additional security assistance. Some universities will try to seek other sources of funding, experts say. “Universities have been trying to diversify funding sources for years. The two most likely sources are increasing enrolment [to get more tuition dollars] and trying to generate more donations,” said Kelchen. “Some universities have the physical capacity to increase enrolment, while others do not. And universities are hoping for a rush of donations to help them get through a difficult time,” said Kelchen. Follow Al Jazeera English:...
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Worldnews

Can South Africa Help Russia And Ukraine Reach A Peace Deal?
~6.5 mins read
As Ukraine’s Zelenskyy meets South Africa’s Ramaphosa in Pretoria, Moscow-allied politicians protest the state visit. Pretoria, South Africa – As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria, the pro-Russia opposition condemned the visit while protesters gathered outside government buildings with a banner reading, “Shame on you, Ramaphosa and Zelenskyy.” Zelenskyy cut short his first state visit to South Africa on Thursday, saying he would “return to Ukraine immediately” after overnight Russian attacks killed at least 12 people in Kyiv. Since February 2022, Ukraine has been fending off a military onslaught by Moscow, aided by arms and support from allies in Europe and the United States. Pretoria has remained neutral, calling for dialogue between both sides. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, an estimated 12,910 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since the war started. But South Africa’s main opposition political party, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party of former President Jacob Zuma, has taken aim squarely at Ukraine, blaming it for the current crisis. “The MK Party strongly condemns Mr Ramaphosa’s misguided decision to extend an invitation to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a figure widely discredited among progressive and nonaligned nations,” Floyd Shivambu, the secretary-general of the MK said earlier this month when the visit was announced. Zelenskyy, Shivambu said, was the “puppet” president of NATO and the West and someone who “sought to destabilise Eastern Europe and the entire world”. “We think [Zelenskyy] is the cause of the war between Russia and Ukraine. He provoked Putin,” Magazela Mzobe, a senior aide to Zuma, told Al Jazeera this week, urging protests. “We regard Russia and President Putin as our friends.” Zuma previously claimed that NATO countries instigated the “crisis” in Ukraine in a bid to counteract the BRICS alliance – a group of large developing world economies that includes Russia and South Africa. South Africa, a historical ally of Russia mainly due to the support the former Soviet Union provided antiapartheid and decolonial movements in Africa, has not condemned Russia or Putin, has abstained from a United Nations resolution doing so and has maintained good ties with Moscow. Days before meeting with Zelenskyy, Ramaphosa had a telephone call with Putin in which, he said, the two “committed to working together towards a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict”. Hours before meeting Zelenskyy on Thursday, Ramaphosa said he had also spoken with US President Donald Trump and the two agreed that the war in Ukraine needed to stop. Ukraine faces ongoing pressure to accept stringent US conditions for a peace deal. On Wednesday, Trump had chastised Zelenskyy for rejecting a Trump administration proposal that would see him cede Crimea to Russia. After Thursday’s talks with Ramaphosa, in which the leaders discussed improving trade as well as ending the war, Zelenskyy said that while Ukraine is open to an unconditional ceasefire, pressure needed to be put on Moscow because it was up to Russia to halt attacks. “We do not see signs of the US putting strong pressure on Russia as part of its peace push,” he told journalists in Pretoria. Zelenskyy said a new set of proposals was on Trump’s desk after talks on Wednesday in London. When pushed about what he would be willing to compromise on during peace talks, Zelenskyy said he was ready to abide by what was proposed but could not go against the Ukrainian Constitution. “It is already a big compromise on Ukraine’s part to agree to sit down with Russia once a ceasefire is in place,” he said. If an unconditional ceasefire is enforced, the question remains who would be a guarantor of it. Zelenskyy said it should be a NATO country that is strong enough to withstand Russia. Ramaphosa said South Africa and other African countries stood ready to be a guarantor to ensure peace. Against the backdrop of Zelenskyy’s visit, some questioned why South Africa would want to help broker peace – and what role it could play. South African Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola says his country is well placed to mediate between Russia and Ukraine because of its history successfully negotiating an end to apartheid, as well as its role in mediating conflicts across Africa. “We don’t believe funding wars resolves conflict. We believe talks end wars. We can’t out-gun our way out of conflict,” his spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told Al Jazeera. However, political analysts watching developments are not all convinced Pretoria has a role to play or whether its efforts could even help yield the desired peace outcomes. “The Americans and Russians are discussing. And this discussion is very resistant to the allies of the Americans, the Europeans. They have not been involved. They have been fighting to get around the table,” said political analyst Kingsley Makhubela from the University of Pretoria. “I don’t understand what value South Africa will have if the Europeans who have a direct interest in the resolution of the conflict have no influence around this.” Makhubela said he was concerned about South Africa possibly being pulled between the interests of the US and the European Union in resolving the Ukraine war. “We must not play into the hands of either party.” Makhubela told Al Jazeera he did not believe Pretoria could persuade either the Russians or Ukrainians to commit to peace talks. “I don’t know what South Africa’s strengths are to influence this process,” he said. Regarding the opposition’s calls to protest Zelenskyy’s visit, Makhubela said they were not extraordinary. “Internally, you will find groups from the far left and the far right will pronounce why they are against this visit,” he said. The opposition MK Party, which protested Zelenskyy’s visit, also argued South Africa is ill-equipped to effectively negotiate peace between Ukraine and Russia. However the MK itself – a breakaway faction from the African National Congress (ANC), the majority party in South Africa’s coalition government – has faced accusations of receiving Russian money. Last year, John Steenhuisen – the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-largest party in the governing coalition – accused the MK Party of being financially backed due to its links to Putin although he admitted there was no definitive proof. “I’m certain that money has flown into their accounts from Russia,” he remarked to the Financial Mail newspaper. The MK denied the allegations of financial connections but has acknowledged the longstanding relationship between Zuma and Putin. “President Zuma and President Putin have enjoyed a relationship that goes back 40 years. They’re friends. But that’s not the same as the Russian government supporting the MK Party,” party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said last year. The MK Party’s affinity for Putin is no secret; it even markets regalia adorned with images of both Zuma and Putin. Zuma has also repeatedly sought medical treatment in Russia during and after his presidency. Additionally, he has faced allegations of corruptly securing a now-defunct nuclear deal with Russia during his time in office. Nonetheless, the MK Party insisted its protest against Zelenskyy’s visit is unrelated to its leader’s close ties with Putin. Despite the pushback to Zelenskyy from some quarters, the Ukrainian Association of South Africa (UAZA), represented by Dzvinka Kachur, was unfazed by the protests and opposition to his visit. “South Africa, like Ukraine, is a democracy. In Russia, you cannot protest. If you go to the street, you will be arrested or you will disappear,” Kachur said. The UAZA, representing about 1,000 Ukrainians residing in South Africa, advocates for improved communication between the two nations. It has previously expressed criticism about the South African government’s failure to openly condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, notably by abstaining from a UN vote. The South African government has maintained its stance of nonalignment and is seeking to facilitate mediation in the conflict with Russia. Speaking at a joint news conference with Zelenskyy on Thursday, Ramaphosa called upon both Russia and Ukraine to ensure there is a comprehensive ceasefire so negotiations can start. He said South Africa believed the only path to peace is through diplomacy, inclusive dialogue and a commitment to the principles of the UN Charter. He also expressed deep concern about the continuing conflict in Ukraine, the loss of civilian lives, damage to critical infrastructure and the deteriorating humanitarian situation. Kachur told Al Jazeera that any attempt by Ramaphosa to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine would be contingent upon significant actions by Russia. “A peaceful solution is only possible if Russia’s colonial system reforms,” she asserted, meaning Russia should stop taking Ukrainian territory. “If there is no change inside Russia, there can’t be peace.” In Ramaphosa’s phone conversation with Putin before Zelenskyy’s visit, the Russian leader articulated his country’s position on the necessity of addressing the “root causes” of the conflict and ensuring Russia’s security interests, according to the Kremlin. “South Africa will continue engaging all interested and affected parties, including the government of Ukraine, in finding a path to peace,” the South African Presidency said after the call. But as pressure from the Trump administration mounts for an end to the war, the dichotomy between South African government neutrality, the main opposition’s staunch support for Russia and the host of international actors wanting a seat at the table leaves uncertainty as to the real role Pretoria could play. Follow Al Jazeera English:...
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Futbol

~2.4 mins read
The Republic of Ireland regrouped from a sluggish first half to earn a crucial 4-0 win over Greece in the Uefa Women's Nations League in Heraklion. Ireland manager Carla Ward's half-time changes proved crucial as substitute Marissa Sheva's deflected shot put the visitors ahead on 49 minutes in the League B Group 2 game. Irish captain Katie McCabe, who didn't start because of a niggle, set up the second in the 61st minute as her superb cross was volleyed goalwards by Leanne Kiernan and while Greece keeper Zoi Nasi produced a fine save, Kyra Carusa poked in the rebound. Jessie Stapleton looped in a near-post header over Nasi for Ireland's third after a McCabe corner on 74 minutes while Amber Barrett celebrated her 50th international cap by adding the fourth in the final seconds. After the sobering 4-0 hammering by Slovenia in February, Ward had said three points were a must for the Irish but the visitors struggled badly for fluency in the first half with Greece looking the more purposeful side as they had the better of the chances. But the half-time introductions of McCabe and Sunderland's Sheva sparked a more much energetic second half as Ireland took control with the Greeks scarcely threatening at all in the second 45 minutes. Republic of Ireland boss Ward made four changes from the Slovenia defeat which included McCabe initially having to be content with a place on the bench as Blackburn Rovers' Tyler Toland was drafted into midfield. Megan Campbell replaced injured Everton player Heather Payne at full-back with Jessie Stapleton taking from Megan Connolly at centre-half and Leanne Kiernan coming into the attack Barrett dropped to the bench. Barrett's absence from the starting line-up meant that Carusa switched to the central striker role. However, the changes didn't work in the opening half as the 26th-ranked Irish looked disjointed against a lively home side who are only 61st in Fifa's ratings. With Ireland having been caught on the break numerous times in Slovenia, the Greek intent was obvious as they attempted to move the ball quickly into the opposition's territory and also went direct on numerous occasions. Veatriki Sarri had already tested her Everton club-mate Courtney Brosnan before Ireland defender Anna Patten had to make a vital block as Eleni Saich went for goal from eight yards in the 20th minute. Ireland's sloppy first half was summed up by Lucy Quinn losing possession on halfway to Sarri in the 33rd minutes with the Everton woman able to run unchallenged to the edge of the box before firing inches over. However, the visitors were transformed by the half-time changes although they needed a big element of luck to break the deadlock as Sheva's shot took a huge deflection off Eleni Markou which completely flatfooted keeper Zoi Nasi. McCabe was then booked for a clumsy challenge on Matina Ntarzanou but the Arsenal star soon set up Ireland's second goal as Carusa couldn't miss after Nasi had only parried Kiernan's volley following the captain's outswinging cross. As the Greeks suddenly looked deflated, Stapleton looped in the third goal from a header after McCabe's corner before Barrett rounded off Ireland's win in the final seconds. The sides meet again in Dublin on Tuesday evening with the Irish still three points adrift of leaders Slovenia who maintained their 100% record in the group by earning a 3-0 home win over Turkey.
All thanks to BBC Sport
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News_Naija

From Dream Homes To Nightmares: Nigerians Groan As Agents Impose Illegal Fees On Cities
~18.9 mins read
As agents impose illegal rent hikes, tenants face deepening hardship and growing insecurity in an already strained housing market, Josephine Ogundeji, writes As she welcomed our correspondent into her two-bedroom apartment in the Gbagada axis of Lagos State, the smell of freshly painted walls still lingered faintly in the air. Motola Adegoroye, a fashion designer, moved with a quiet weariness, her tape measure still hanging loosely around her neck, not as a symbol of work done, but of work delayed. “Please, sit,” she said, gesturing toward the only available plastic chair in the sparsely furnished space. Then, without hesitation, she lowered herself onto the bare tiled floor, her back resting gently against a wall. “I haven’t been able to furnish yet,” she added with a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. The rolls of fabric she had brought with her from Ibadan sat neatly stacked in a corner, untouched. They had not been cut, stitched, or measured. Instead, our correspondent observed that the search for a habitable house had stitched her into an entirely different fabric, one woven not with thread and ambition, but with stress, fatigue, and the relentless disillusionment that shadows every first-time renter in the city. “There’s hardly anything more frustrating than what I’ve experienced,” she said, her voice low but firm. The exhaustion in her eyes wasn’t just physical, it was the weight of disappointment, the kind that comes when dreams collide with an unforgiving reality. She gestured lightly around the room, her voice carried the weight of both disbelief and bitterness, “There’s hardly anything more frustrating than what I have gone through since I moved. Imagine, the base rent for this apartment is N3m,” she began, eyes narrowing. “But then, the agent hits you with N500,000 commission, N500,000 agreement fee, and another N500,000 for caution, that is over N4m gone in one breath, a leaking sink and neighbours who blast music till 2 a.m.? For what, exactly?” Her voice cracked slightly, not from weakness, but from a deep, simmering anger that had been brewing since her arrival. “It feels like extortion, and everyone is just expected to accept it. No questions, no regulation, no mercy.” Behind her, the city continued its noisy dance, indifferent to her struggle, just one more dreamer trying to find her footing in a country that never stops charging a high rent and excess added fees. Inflated fees In a similar vein, a freelancer, David Ijasesan, was prepared for high rent. What he wasn’t prepared for was how much more he’d have to pay just to access a place to live. “I knew Lagos was expensive, but nothing prepared me for the amount of money you’d lose before you even get the key to a place,” the freelancer retorted. According to Ijasesan, he first tried his luck on the Island but quickly abandoned that plan when he realised the process was financially punishing, even without rent. He explained, “Before anyone shows you a house, you’re expected to pay a registration fee- N10,000 on the Mainland, and on the Island it can go up to N20,000, N25,000, sometimes even N30,000. Then comes the inspection fee, which is the most ridiculous part. You’re charged between N5,000 to N25,000 per outing, whether you like the apartment or not, whether you take it or not, that money is gone.” “And here’s the worst part, you are the one funding the transportation too, If an agent is taking you to five different places in a day, you’re the one paying the cab fare or fueling their car. I had days where I spent over N6,000 just on transportation, and still didn’t find a place. “Even if you find a place, and you delay in making a decision that day, you lose. The whole cycle begins again, new inspection fee, new transport costs. I tell people that house-hunting in Lagos is like playing a video game where you pay to restart every level, even when you lose,” he said, chuckling dryly. Eventually, he found a mini flat in Yaba at N1.2m in annual rent, however, that figure ballooned quickly. “When they sent the breakdown, it came to N1.8m, they added N600,000 in what they called agency fee, agreement fee, legal, service charge, and a very suspicious ‘others’. I was stunned. How is it that half the rent is going to people who are not giving me light, water, or even furniture?” he recalled. The more he asked around, the clearer the picture became. “I started asking agents’ questions and realised many of these fees were arbitrary, there is no regulation. One agent told me that the ‘agency fee’ includes a commission that the landlord also benefits from. So if I pay N400,000 as an agency, the landlord would be getting a cut. Then there’s the lawyer who drafts the agreement, N100,000 gone. Service charge? That’s another N100,000. But sometimes you ask for what service, and they can’t even tell you, In addition, it varies from location to location.” “What I also learned is that most of these agents are middlemen, so the person you’re speaking to may not know the landlord or even the house. He’s just connected to another guy, who knows another guy, who finally gets you to the apartment, and every person in that chain adds their own cut. By the time it gets to you, you’re paying the price of a small car just to move into a basic apartment.” “For someone without a fixed income, the system felt especially cruel. As a freelancer, I don’t have a monthly salary. I work, I get paid. So every naira matters,” he said. “But in this housing market, agents treat tenants like walking ATMs. And there’s no accountability. Nobody asks why you’re paying four different charges on top of rent. Everybody’s trying to eat, I get that. But it doesn’t mean people should be milked dry. “I had no choice but to ask my uncle in the Ikorodu area of Lagos to let me stay with him, since I couldn’t splurge such an amount on a mini-flat.” Across Nigeria’s major cities, the simple act of renting a home has become an agonising ordeal. For tenants already grappling with inflation, stagnant wages, and a housing shortfall, an emerging trend is compounding their woes, real estate agents imposing illegal fee hikes asides rent, with little to no regulation. A listing seen by our correspondent on a Lagos housing group on Whatsapp platform paints a clear picture. WhatsApp listings It stated, “Fresh letting in Surulere Lagos , all are newly built with modern finishing 1. Two bedroom apartment: rent: N2.5m, agency fee: N400k, commission: N400k, caution fee: N200k, service charge: N250k, total package: N3.750m “2. Mini flat (upstairs) rent: N1.7m, agency fee: N300k, commission: N300k, caution fee: N200k, service charge: N200k, total package: N2.7m. 3. Mini flat (ground floor – option 1) rent: N1.5m, agency fee: N300k, commission: N300k, caution fee: N200k, service charge: N200k, total package: N2.5m. 4. Room self-contain (upstairs) rent: N1.2m, agency fee: N250k, commission: N250k, caution fee: N150k, service charge: N150k, total package: N2m. “5. Mini flat (ground floor – option 2) rent: N1m, agency fee: N250k, commission: N250k, caution fee: N150k, service charge: N150k, total package: N1.8m.” Another house was uploaded with a rent of N1.3m, but the total package shot up to N2m after agents added questionable fees. It stated, “1 unit left, a mini flat duplex with an open kitchen with cabinet , prepaid metre, Off Apata Road Shomolu Lagos, rent N1.3m, service charge N200k, legal N300k, agency N300k, caution N200k, total package N2.3m.” On another agency Whatsapp platform where available properties are being uploaded daily, it stated, “A newly built, well-finished 2-bedroom apartment is available for rent on Isaac John Street, off Morocco Road, Yaba, with an annual rent of N2.5m. Additional fees include ₦400,000 for agency, N400, 000 for legal, and N250,000 for caution, while the security levy and waste management fees are to be discussed during inspection. The apartment is intended for young, working-class Yoruba individuals, with inspections starting at 2 p.m. this afternoon.” Another Whatsapp platform states, “Just out, luxury finished 2bedroom flat upstairs with all rooms ensuite and visitors toilet in a gated compound with security and gated street, just 3 in the compound, modern pop, chandelier, kitchen cabinets, wall drop, personal prepaid meter, personal staircase, personal balcony, car packs, location: Abiodun right Ikata, Surulere, rent 3m, commission: 500k, agreement: 500k, caution 500k, service charge 300k. Note: corporate clients only pls inspections start by 12pm today No video yet but don’t worry your clients will love it.” Other states plagued A sports writer in Ogun State, Abiodun Ogunowo, explained that he had recently gone through an experience that exposed the level of exploitation and lack of regulation among some rental agents when he wanted to rent a house at Rain Oil axis in Ogun State. “I’ve always been fortunate to secure my apartments directly from landlords, avoiding the usual hassles with agents. However, in this particular instance, I was pressed for time. I had already informed my former landlord of my intention to move and even helped secure a new tenant who had paid and was ready to move in on a fixed date. With the clock ticking and no suitable apartment in sight, I had no choice but to engage an agent to help me find a place quickly. Eventually, the agent found an apartment I liked, one of the better options he presented, especially because it had a reliable electricity supply. The rent was N800,000, and he initially quoted a total cost of N1.2m. When I requested a breakdown, he said the agreement fee was N100,000, agency fee N200,000, and caution fee N100,000. I was surprised at the agency fee, but he justified it by claiming that lawyers sometimes demanded a share from it as well. I later found out that there were at least two other agents involved before him, though the apartment was now in his direct care. Out of curiosity and concern, I managed to meet the lawyer handling the transaction, only to uncover the truth, they had inflated the fees. In reality, all the extra charges were supposed to be 10 per cent each, meaning N80,000 for agreement, agency, and caution respectively. By challenging their claims and clarifying the proper charges, I ended up saving about N160,000. It was a revealing experience that highlighted just how easily unsuspecting tenants can be exploited if they don’t question these inflated costs,” he narrated. An Abuja resident, Adedapo Adewuyi, disclosed that what Abuja agents charge is 20 per cent for agency, adding that sometimes 20 per cent for both agency fee and legal fee. An Ibadan resident, Ore Akinyo-Ojo, said Ibadan’s rental market requires urgent reform, agents must prioritise tenants’ needs, providing honest representations and fair fees. She said, “When searching for a rental home in Ibadan, I encountered a harsh reality, real estate agents’ dishonesty. Pictures sent were often different from the actual property, leaving me with a sense of betrayal. Agents charge outrageous inspection fees, ranging from N5,000 to N10,000, without guaranteeing that the property matches the pictures. This lack of transparency extends to the facilities and road conditions, which are often misrepresented. “The rent itself is often just the beginning. Additional fees include agency fees, caution fees, and agreement fees, which can add hundreds of thousands of Naira to the total cost. For instance, a property advertised at N800,000 per annum, for a 2 bedroom flat, for instance, might come with N500,000 in agency fees, N300,000 in caution fees, and N200,000 in agreement fees, bringing the total to N1.8m. This is not an isolated incident; many tenants face similar challenges. “The cumulative effect of these practices is financial strain and emotional distress. Tenants deserve better. Agents must prioritize transparency and honesty, providing accurate representations of properties and fair fees. It’s time for a more equitable system that puts the needs of tenants first. The current state of Ibadan’s rental market is unsustainable and demands reform. The government should regulate the industry, capping excessive fees and ensuring transparency. Tenants deserve better.” In response to the growing complaints by Enugu State residents over the rising exploitation of tenants and prospective tenants by landlords, the Enugu State House of Assembly recently introduced a bill to checkmate the alleged excesses. Titled, “The Bill to Amend the Landlord and Tenant Law, CAP. 101, Laws of Enugu State, 2024,” the proposed legislation, sponsored by Okey Mbah, representative of Nkanu East State Constituency, recently passed its first reading. Among others, the bill sought to regulate agency and legal fees by setting both fees at a maximum of 10 per cent as well as abolish the agelong practice of caution fees demanded of tenants by landlords, but never refunded at the end of their tenancy. Offence under this bill, when passed into law, attracts a N500,000 fine or a prison term of six months or both. Social media uproar On the social media platform “X,” our correspondent observed an adviser, Ena Realty Abuja, who noted that Agency and Legal fee was pegged at 20 per cent in Abuja. He stated, “Newly Built 1 Bedroom Studio Apartment at Eagle’s Court, behind Trends Hotel and Suites, Airport Road, Lugbe District, Abuja. Rent: N1,500,000 per annum, Service Charge: N48,000, Caution fee: N50,000, Agency and Legal Fee: 20 per cent of rent.” @jimmyOsas responding said, “Enter Abuja, you go see tears, and the funny thing is that landlords don’t care, as long as they have their money and expect increase the following year or move out for a new tenant.” One @biodun_alao, responding to an outcry by @KamiyoJnr on the excess agency fee of N250,000 on a N700, 000 rental, retorted, “The activities of these agents are unregulated and it is very ridiculous. The agency fee is what makes rent more expensive. Arbitrary fixing of charges.” Also responding to Kamiyo, an x handler with the handle @Ishow_leck noted that Lagos agents were the cause of the whole situation in the housing sector. Responding to @Ishow_leck and @KamiyiJnr, another X handler, @PAPPYZEE86 said, “Baba, una never hear of IB (Ibadan) agents? 7 agents on one house of N300k annual rent, total package+ N480k (landlords own na N300k, original agent- N50k, 6 other agents na N130k). This is just an example for a small apartment. In 2021, I met an agent for a house, said rent =N300k, total N420k.” @waleo065 said, “Agent collected over 50 per cent rent for the agency and other fees, at the end of the day, I found out the initial rent was lower than the amount I paid. I am looking for who go help beat that man anytime I see him.” @UncleWilson said, “Those agents are foot soldiers, not estate surveyor and valuers.” @Lemonade said, “I saw a room self-contain. House rent N200k, total package N380k, I swear I wan mad and I’m not even joking.” @Young_Dex said, “Lol a friend got a self-con for N850k at Yaba and the agency and all too the total package to N1.6m.” @EkekweFaith said, “I have been house hunting for months and this is a major issue! Agency fee will be almost half of the rent you want to collect.” Narrating his ordeal, an X handler @Drweloveu noted he and his other house tenants were left in shock after finding out their landlord only receives N500,000, out of N1.3m they had been paying yearly for three years to their caretaker, who also serves as an agent. He narrated, “I and other tenants have been paying 1.3M as rent for the past three years to the caretaker of our house. The landlord visited us recently without the idea of the caretaker, and we decided to plead with him to reduce the house rent to N1m. “Atanda, you won’t believe that the landlord was shocked to hear that we are paying 1.3m, he claims that what the caretaker sends to him is 500k each, and that is what he told him to collect from us. Well, he said we shouldn’t worry that he will handle the situation and our next rent will be 500k. What i want to know now is that, can i take up a case of fraud against the caretaker so that he will refund me my balance of 800k for 3 years, which is 2.4M?? The landlord still looks better than the caretaker despite all the money he has taken from Tenant.” Meanwhile, a Katsina resident with X handle @Almajiri Na Allah said, “Why I love it here in Katsina, agency is simply 10 per cent of rent without the rest of the baggage. Highest I ever paid on rent for a newly built 2 bedroom apartment was N300k, and it came at an even reduced agent fee of just N20k.” In an exclusive interview with a Lagos-based housing agent, Jacob Great, he revealed that the extra/high charges often go directly to the landlord or property developers, who are eager to recoup their return on investment as quickly as possible. He said, “Agency fees often appear inflated, and many clients wonder where all that money goes. The reality is that agency fees aren’t always retained fully by the agent. In some cases, especially in high-demand areas like Lagos Island, a significant portion of the agency fee is shared, or even redirected, towards the landlord or developer. “Let’s say the total agency fee is N200,000. In some arrangements like Lagos mainland where the landlords are greedy, we the agent that did the work may only retain N100,000, while the other N100,000 goes to the landlord or developer. The landlord or developer involved also takes the other fees, which include the agreement fee, caution fee, service charge, amongst others. On the Island, however, only 10 per cent of agency fee is collected, unlike the mainland. “This happens because many landlords or developers view the property not just as a space to rent or sell, but as a strategic investment. They may have poured in significant capital, sometimes without external funding, and now need to recover those funds quickly. As such, they tap into every revenue stream available, including the agency fee.” Unlicensed agents In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, The Lagos Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Gbenga Ismail, said the agents charging the excess fees were not the regulated ones. He added, “The agents charging these amounts are clearly not the regulated ones and they are the ones working in unregulated areas and there are different kind of properties, as it is prevalent in room by room lettings. These agents usually charge lump sums, and what needs to be done is bringing in regulation into that sector. “The government needs to put these developments under regulation by creating awareness to make sure these agents do not overcharge. Hence, the government needs to understand what is happening there to be able to properly regulate and know who are the people there, why are they doing this? and what rules are governing them and anybody reported must face sanctions immediately, because these agents are overcharging and unlicensed. 10% agency fee The Lagos State Government recently charged the leadership of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, and association of Estate Agents in Nigeria to support the drive to reduce rent burden on Lagosians and shun the prevalent illegal fees in real estate business. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, stated that there were existing state laws such as the 2015 Tenancy Law and the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority Law which specify a percentage of chargeable fees of not more than 10 per cent on real estate transactions. In an interview with The PUNCH, a legal practitioner, Shola Adekunle, said renting a house is generally expensive, especially in Lagos State, in terms of the time one commits, the lies by agents, and the unreasonable rents and associated fees. He added, “The extra fees in addition to the rent that one pays to rent a house such as agent fees, legal fees and caution fees are unreasonable. It is purely cheating which has continued for so long. It’s unreasonable that one will rent a house for N2m annual rent for instance and end up paying additional 60 to 100 per cent of the rent as associated fees. Most of the houses are overpriced with outrageous rent which is unreasonable to start with and made even worse with these extra fees which are non-negotiable. I think the most pathetic aspect of the experience, despite the outrageous fees, is being presented with unworthy and inhabitable houses which the crazy agents would describe as ‘hot cake’, ‘sharp’, ‘o make sense gan’ etc. These agents and landlords act in connivance to set outrageous rents and associated fees. It is almost impossible to rent a vacant house when one discovers himself without going through an agent in Lagos. “The government has been complicit in the continued state of affairs by not making any genuine effort to regulate house rents and the associated fees. A responsible government would act proactively, they have pegged the minimum wage at N70,000, which is apparently a stark contrast with our reality, the government should take responsibility. Many people don’t have to be homeless or spend all their annual earnings on rent before the government ought to intervene. I am aware of the lip service effort being made at the Lagos State House of Assembly recently but how many of such actions have been started but not completed? Hopefully, it will be different this time. There should be clear rules and regulations which provide for minimum and maximum ranges of rents for different areas which could be subject to review from time to time as inflation grows or reduces. Agent and legal fees should be capped at 5 to 10 percent through a consideration of the amount of rent payable. Caution fees should also be percentage based and should be refundable subject to reasonable terms and conditions to be provided in the rules and regulations. “The rules and regulations should be strictly enforced and there should be a government agency to handle reports of violations or intended violations. Violations should be criminalised with fines and terms of imprisonment. One critical issue which again shows the complicity of the government, is that, most times, it is not the absence of rules and regulations that matters, but the ineffectiveness of regulatory agencies and lack of willingness to enforce the rules and regulations. Merely putting rules and regulations in place without implementing them serves no useful purpose and the state of affairs will simply continue.” In a similar vein, another legal practitioner, Emmanuel Bassey, said the extortion by agents has become an established practice in the housing sector across the big cities. He asserted, “I feel it is the deliberate act of the property owners to publish vacant apartments that has enabled these charges which sometimes are higher than the actual annual rent of the apartment. None of the fees are backed by law, in most cases the fees are dictated to the potential tenant without negotiation. The regular ones I’m familiar with that potential tenants are made to pay include: Caution, Legal, and Agent fee. I know of others such as Service charge which is a compulsory continuous payment. “In some if not majority of the time, the Legal fee supposedly meant for the agreement to be drafted by a lawyer, is never given to a lawyer nor any agreement given to the tenant. I speak from personal experience. The only justifiable charge if at all is that of agency. Under the common law, an agent is entitled to a commission which is supposed to be mutually agreed to between the agent and principal (tenant). “So if a potential tenant is looking for an apartment, upon engaging a house agent to search for the desired specification, they are supposed to negotiate the agent’s fee upon successfully securing the desired apartment. For legal, the proper procedure ought to be that the landlord or his attorney after receiving the rent, ought to engage the services of a lawyer to prepare a tenancy agreement for which ordinarily the landlord is to pay the cost as agreed between the landlord and the lawyer but based on the practice in Nigeria, the legal fees is imposed on the tenant.” Meanwhile, an estate surveyor, Olorunyomi Alatise, noted that professionals in the housing sector were not oblivious to these antics. He said, “As professionals in the estate industry, we are not blind to the activities of these agents. They act like viruses, damaging the profession. Often, the commission they collect rivals the rent the landlord receives. These agents operate from ignorance, not even knowing what the fees they charge are called. It’s a frustrating and chaotic situation for the industry. “As an institution, with the help of the government, we can regulate their activities. We cannot completely disregard them or take drastic actions, as even we, as professionals, rely on them. They possess information and access to local markets that we may not have, even though they are not professionals and often act erratically. “As professionals, what we can do is integrate them into our system, ensuring their activities are monitored and regulated. By doing so, we can enforce a strict law limiting estate agents to charge no more than 10 per cent on a transaction, as stipulated by law. “In many cases, agents involved in property transactions feel dissatisfied with the commission they receive. For instance, if an apartment is rented for N500,000, a 10 per cent agency commission amounts to N50,000. However, when multiple agents, sometimes up to ten, are involved in the transaction, the commission must be split among them, significantly reducing the amount each agent receives and making the returns seem insufficient.” According to the surveyor, to increase their earnings, some agents attempt to inflate agency fees and commissions, often without any consideration for the prospective tenants. “To increase their earnings, some agents inflate agency fees and commissions, disregarding prospective tenants. Driven by personal gain, these actions ignore professional standards and ethics, revealing a lack of professionalism, especially among those outside the regulatory framework. “As a professional body, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers has a key role to play. Through collaboration with the government, we can create a regulatory framework to integrate these informal agents, standardise practices, and ensure their activities align with industry ethics for the benefit of both clients and the profession,” he concluded. Govt pledges intervention The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu- Fatai, said the introduction of illegal fees such as caution fee, inspection fee, and finder’s fee among others is harmful to the practice which affects tenants and puts the integrity of the practitioners and property owners at stake. The commissioner stated this during an exploratory meeting with executives of the Estate, Rent and Commission Agents Association of Nigeria. He said, “Lagos State Government is concerned about the challenges faced by families in securing and retaining rental accommodation in the State, with unpleasant rent increments and illegal estate transaction charges. The State government is aware of the increase in demand as greater than supply, but the government would no longer tolerate and allow the extortion of accommodation seekers with unwholesome practices. “I want to assure you that the State Government under the leadership of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is compassionate and will leave no stone unturned to ensure sanity in the real estate business in the State.”
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