Many Nigerians are grappling with a consistent rise in annual house rents, prompting some to seek refuge in uncompleted buildings rather than renewing their leases. Oluwafemi Morgan explores their experiences. Kola Oriola, a secondary school teacher in Ejigbo, Lagos State, faced a difficult decision after receiving a letter from his landlord informing him of a rent increase. Oriola, who was living in a two-bedroom apartment and earning N50,000 monthly, had initially paid N72,000 for his apartment. However, by May 2020, the rent had escalated to over N200,000. Overwhelmed by the news and with eviction looming, he decided to relocate his family to an uncompleted property in Ikorodu. With the assistance of a thrift loan from his wife, they managed to complete the roofing and secure the doors and windows, allowing them to move in. Since then, Oriola has taken up freelance home schooling while gradually improving the property.
Reflecting on his situation, Oriola shared, “I left Ejigbo in May 2020 after spending 17 years there due to high rent. Many people were unable to pay, and at one point, the Lagos State Government advised landlords to collect rent biannually. Even with this adjustment, many of us still struggled.” He noted that some individuals were returning to their villages due to their inability to pay rent. “With my wife’s help, we secured funds from her school’s cooperative to make our property livable. We rushed to roof the place once the COVID-19 lockdown was lifted,” he added. Although the house remains unfinished, with only the front door and some windows completed, Oriola is determined to make it a home.
Chidi Ihenacho, an accountant, also faced a similar predicament. He now spends N1,700 daily commuting from his home in Ikorodu to his workplace in Arepo, Ogun State. Before moving in November 2022, he lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Arepo, which was a short walk from his office. His landlord’s sudden rent increase from N500,000 to N800,000 left Ihenacho and his wife, who earn a combined monthly salary of N150,000, with no choice but to relocate. With three teenage children, their educational expenses were also rising. “It is very stressful, but as a breadwinner, I had to find a way forward. I now live in my house, which is not yet completed, but I am optimistic that it will improve,” he explained. Ihenacho is currently working on minor fittings and replacing stolen wiring, relieved that he no longer has to pay rent.
Omirin Olusola, a computer analyst, experienced a similar struggle. Four years ago, he earned N30,000 working for a food and snack company while paying N84,000 in rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Ojoo, Lagos. When his landlord raised the rent to N150,000, he could not afford it and was forced to move into a self-contained room. Unfortunately, he found the new place to be filled with negative energy, leading him and his wife to relocate to their property in Igbo-Oloyin, Ibadan. “The room was not even plastered when we moved in, but we have built it little by little since 2018. If you visit now, you would see the progress we’ve made,” he said. Olusola emphasized the importance of tenants planning ahead to avoid being at the mercy of landlords.
The rising cost of living has exacerbated the housing crisis in Nigeria. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the inflation rate rose from 20.47 percent in October 2022 to 21.47 percent in November 2022. Although it slightly eased to 21.34 percent in December, the increasing rents in Lagos, Ogun, and other states have forced many families to relocate to uncompleted properties. The NBS reported that Nigerians spent N57.1 trillion on household consumption in the first half of 2022, reflecting a 14.4 percent increase year-on-year. This spending includes essential needs such as food, accommodation, and utilities, highlighting the struggle many residents face in meeting basic requirements for their families.
Despite the financial strain, many Nigerians spend more than 50 percent of their income on rent, particularly in major cities, contrary to the recommended guideline of not exceeding 30 percent. In areas like Berger and Arepo, the rent for a one-bedroom flat ranges from N350,000 to N500,000, while a two-bedroom apartment can cost between N700,000 and N900,000. In Ejigbo, Lagos, two-bedroom apartments are rented for between N700,000 and N1 million. Meanwhile, in Lugbe, Abuja, a room self-contained apartment can cost between N250,000 and N500,000, with two-bedroom apartments ranging from N900,000 to N2 million. In Port Harcourt, a decent two-bedroom apartment rents for between N700,000 and N900,000, while a single room goes for N350,000 to N500,000.
Real estate expert Akinropo Abraham explained that these movements affect the market in two ways. Many individuals are compelled to develop their properties and move in to avoid paying rent, but this often distances them from their workplaces, leading to significant financial stress. Mrs. Yemisi Adetunji, a landlady in Ketu, Lagos, noted that landlords often raise rents to recoup losses from repairs and to cope with rising living costs. “I increase the rent of my block of flats every four years. I don’t think it is fair to raise it every two years, as the tenant’s rent starts counting as soon as they pay. Many landlords respond to the high costs of goods and services by increasing their rents,” she explained.
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