Tenants Across Abuja Laments Soaring Rents.

Tenants across Abuja are lamenting soaring rents, with some residents reporting increases of between 50 and 100 per cent as rising housing costs continue to put pressure on household incomes.

Residents in areas including Apo, Jahi, Karu, Kado, Gwarinpa, Wuse and Lugbe, said rents have risen sharply in recent years, with some attributing the increases to new roads and other infrastructure projects that have made previously less-accessible areas more attractive.

In Apo, a two-bedroom apartment that previously rented for about ₦1.5 million now costs as much as ₦3 million to ₦4 million, excluding agency and legal fees. In Kado, another tenant said the rent for a two-bedroom apartment doubled from ₦2 million to ₦4 million.

Tenants also complained about additional agency, legal, caution and service charges, which they said can add 20 to 30 per cent or more to the total cost of securing accommodation. Some residents said the rising housing burden is forcing families and workers to relocate farther from the city centre in search of cheaper accommodation.

While landlords cited rising construction and maintenance costs as reasons for higher rents, residents called for stronger regulation of landlords and estate agents, as well as government intervention to expand access to affordable housing.