Nollywood actress Lilian Esoro has lamented over what she described as an outrageous increase in the rent of her business premises, revealing that her landlord recently raised the rent to ₦50 million.
The actress made her frustration known on social media while reacting to a viral video of a woman who complained about a 392.31 per cent increase in her house rent in Banana Island, Lagos.
Drawing parallels with her own experience, Esoro said she was struggling to understand how business owners are expected to survive amid rising costs and repeated rent hikes.
“God help me! God help us All,” she wrote.
“A Home Rent Increase 392.31% In BANANA ISLAND.
My Business, have also just been served an increament notice yet again to N50,000,000.
Like how?? What am I selling? I can’t anymore.
I am already dealing with a lot this period!
Now to add this to my issues, really isn’t something I can deal with! Nigeria, Lagos you win!
I AM DONE!!
Zero Empathy, Zero Regulation.”
The actress went on to criticise landlords who impose massive rent increases without making any improvements to their properties, arguing that the trend is hurting entrepreneurs and forcing many businesses to shut down.
“With everything that is going on. I am forced to ask… This wickedness is to what end please???”
“Same house you already bought and own in the last decade, with no renovations or anything done on the said building, you go ahead and increase the rent on occupants just because you feel like it???”
“Like how and why? On what ground please? The mark up doesn’t even add up.”
She revealed that her business has been affected by similar situations over the past seven years, adding that frequent relocations are damaging to brands and can put employees at risk of losing their jobs.
“Especially for business owners. Forcing people to Either move business address frequently, which isn’t good for any business (My business have been a victim of this Evil in the last 7yrs. Story for another day) or the worst, force people to Shut down years of businesses, and rendering the entire staff homeless and out of jobs.”
“Having people give up on life, cos of your Greed! This is pure Evil.”
Esoro concluded by urging landlords to show compassion and remember that wealth and power are temporary.
“Never be the reason for someone else’s tears or misery just because you have the power now!”
“There is more to life. Show a little empathy and Kindness. Please.
Like Some landlord really need to do better.”
