By Abayomi David
The recent spike in rent prices in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, has reached epidemic proportions, leaving residents overwhelmed and crying out for relief. The rent hikes, which have become increasingly common in the city’s housing market, are pushing many families and individuals to the financial brink as landlords raise prices with little explanation, fueling frustration and despair among tenants.
One such tenant is Mr. Omins, a resident of the 1st Avenue axis of Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja Municipal Area Council. Omins has been living in a two-bedroom terrace duplex since 2020, just after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, his rent was around 2 million Naira annually. However, in the years that followed, his rent increased by at least 30% annually, and he now pays close to 5 million Naira—a drastic jump that has had a severe impact on his finances and overall well-being.
Speaking with Abuja City Journal, “I asked the management why the rent keeps going up every year, but they never give me a valid reason,” Omins lamented. “This has been an uphill battle for me and has affected other aspects of my life.”
Housing agents are also feeling the strain of these steep rent increases. Iretiogo (not her real name), a housing agent who requested anonymity, shared that the rapid rise in rent prices has hurt her business and made affordable housing a distant dream for many. “In the past, some areas were known to be expensive, but now even once budget-friendly places like Kubwa and Lugbe have become unaffordable,” she explained. “People can barely afford their rent now, and many are moving en masse to the suburbs of Abuja.”
The situation is echoed by landlords who cite the challenging economic environment as a reason for the rent hikes. Malam Bala, a property owner in Wuse II, pointed out that inflation has led to skyrocketing costs of building materials and maintenance, which landlords are forced to offset by increasing rent. “The recent rise in rent cost was inevitable considering the state of the economy,” Bala explained. “The cost of maintaining houses has gone up, and we have to recover that money somehow—there’s no other way but to raise the rent.”
For those new to the city, the housing crisis is an even more daunting challenge. Mr. Bolu, who moved to Abuja from Ado Ekiti in early 2023 after securing a job, has been on a difficult journey to find accommodation. After temporarily staying with a friend, Bolu was forced to find his own space when his friend got married. “Looking for a house in Abuja has been nothing short of traumatic,” Bolu shared. “You have to pay an ‘inspection fee’ to agents just to see a property, and the amount required for damages, legal fees, and agency fees nearly doubles the total rent cost. It’s almost impossible to afford housing here.”
Bolu, like many others, is calling on the government to intervene and regulate the housing market before the situation becomes even more dire. However, the government’s ability to step in appears limited. Speaking during a recent inspection of the Zeberced Quarry in Kubwa, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, acknowledged the issue but stated that the government cannot fully control the housing sector.
“We are not operating a socialist or communist system,” Wike said. “Market forces dictate prices, including rent. While we can introduce some regulations, we cannot completely dictate rent prices or take over the housing process.”
Wike also noted that rising rent costs are a reflection of broader economic trends. “The cost of rent is market-driven. No government puts a cap on rent prices—it’s all about supply and demand,” he explained. “Everything is becoming more expensive, from food to transportation, and housing is no exception. Property developers invest with the expectation of making a profit, so it’s no surprise that rent is increasing.”
While Wike’s remarks may reflect the economic realities of a free market, they offer little comfort to Abuja residents who are already stretched thin by the rising cost of living. Many argue that more must be done to protect tenants and ensure that affordable housing remains accessible to ordinary Nigerians.
In response, some experts suggest that the government could introduce more targeted regulations, such as rent control policies or tax incentives for developers who build affordable housing units. Others advocate for better enforcement of existing laws, including those that protect tenants from exploitative practices by landlords and housing agents.
For now, Abuja’s residents continue to struggle with the financial burden of rent, unsure of what the future holds. As the housing crisis intensifies, the call for a balanced solution that protects both tenants and landlords becomes louder, with many hoping that the government will eventually find a way to bring relief to the capital’s housing market.
