By Muhammad Mamman
The House of Representatives has strongly condemned the rising cost of rent across Nigeria, describing the trend as a major contributor to the country’s worsening housing crisis. Lawmakers have proposed new regulations that would limit rent increases to no more than 20 per cent of the current rate, regardless of improvements or infrastructural upgrades made to the property.
During plenary on Thursday, several members of the House expressed concern over the growing hardship faced by tenants, particularly in urban centres such as Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, where rent prices have skyrocketed in recent months.
Presenting the motion, the sponsor noted that arbitrary rent hikes were forcing many families out of their homes and deepening homelessness across the country. The lawmaker argued that the proposed measure would bring fairness to the rental market, protect tenants from exploitation, and encourage long-term tenancy arrangements.
Lawmakers also called on the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to collaborate with state governments in implementing rent control mechanisms and providing affordable housing schemes for low- and middle-income earners.
The House further urged landlords to show empathy towards tenants during the current economic downturn, noting that inflation and rising living costs had already stretched many Nigerians to their limits.
If passed into law, the proposed rent control policy would mark a major shift in Nigeria’s real estate regulation, balancing the rights of property owners with the need to protect vulnerable tenants.
Analysts say the move reflects growing public pressure on lawmakers to tackle the housing affordability crisis, as citizens continue to grapple with the effects of inflation, stagnant wages, and soaring property costs.
