Abuja Landlord Says Tenants Should ‘Leave If They Can’t Wait’ After Failing to Install Borehole for 10 Months

Abuja Landlord Says Tenants Should ‘Leave If They Can’t Wait’ After Failing to Install Borehole for 10 Months

Abuja Landlord Leaves Tenants High and Dry, Refuses to Provide Water

Tenants of some self-contained flats on Prospect Road, Sheriti Kabusa Village, Abuja, are living in discomfort due to the refusal of their landlord, Friday Chukwu, to provide a borehole for the property.

Despite collecting rent from the tenants between July and August, Chukwu has failed to ensure a steady water supply, leaving the residents to fend for themselves.

The tenants had inspected the property before paying their rent and were pleased to see that the water taps were running well, assuming that the water was being supplied from a tank on an elevated platform in the compound.

However, they soon discovered that the water was actually being supplied from a neighboring building about 1,000 meters away.

It turned out that Chukwu had a temporary arrangement with the neighboring property owner to supply water to his building, which he had paid for one month in advance.

However, when the agreement lapsed in early August, Chukwu failed to renew it, leaving the tenants without a reliable source of water.

The tenants have been forced to purchase water from vendors at a cost of N1,500 per day, a significant additional expense. They have complained to Chukwu several times, but he has promised to dig a borehole without providing a timeline.

The property agent, Abdul Muhammed, had assured the tenants that a borehole would be provided before their tenancy reached five months, but this promise was not fulfilled.

The situation has become so dire that the tenants have had to contribute money daily to purchase water from other sources. The lack of a reliable water supply is not the only issue affecting the tenants.

Chukwu had procured a prepaid meter for the flats, but it was faulty. When the tenants attempted to recharge it, they discovered that it was not working properly.

The property agent, Muhammed, had brought an electricity worker to fix the meter, but instead of repairing it, the worker bypassed it.

The agent then demanded that the tenants pay N25,000 for the “service”, which they refused to do, citing that they had not authorized the bypass.

As a result, Muhammed directed the electricity official to disconnect their power cables, leaving the tenants without electricity.

The tenants have been forced to seek alternative arrangements, asking that their power cables be connected directly to a nearby electricity pole so that they could be billed manually.

However, Muhammed and the electricity worker refused to accede to their request.

When contacted by our reporter, Chukwu dismissed the tenants’ complaints, stating that they should wait for him to dig a borehole when he had the money.

He claimed that digging a borehole would cost over N1 million and that tenants who could not wait should pack out and receive a refund for the balance of their rent.

The tenants are now faced with the prospect of living without a reliable water supply and struggling to make ends meet, while their landlord appears unwilling to take responsibility for providing basic amenities.

The situation highlights the need for greater regulation and oversight of landlords and property agents to ensure that tenants are treated fairly and with respect.