Members of the House of Representatives have expressed concern over the rising cost of rent across Nigeria, describing the situation as exploitative and unsustainable for many citizens.
The lawmakers, during Thursday’s plenary, debated a motion moved by Bassey Akiba, who represents Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, on the “Need to Regulate Arbitrary Rent Increase and Protect Tenants from Exploitation.”
Following the motion, the House urged that rent increases should not exceed 20 per cent of the existing rate, regardless of improvements in infrastructure or other factors cited by landlords.
The lawmakers also called on the Federal Government to prioritise investment in affordable housing schemes to expand access to low-cost housing and reduce pressure on the rental market.
In a related development, the House passed a resolution directing the Inspector General of Police and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure that all officers at checkpoints who operate in plain clothes are properly identified with full uniforms and official tags. The lawmakers noted that the current practice of deploying plain-clothed officers at checkpoints violates global standards and hampers accountability.
Earlier this year, the Lagos State House of Assembly raised similar concerns, urging the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to enforce the full provisions of the Lagos State Tenancy Law of 2015. The House also tasked the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, to intensify public education campaigns on tenants’ rights under the law.
Lagos lawmaker Sa’ad Olumoh, who sponsored the motion, cited Section 37 of the Tenancy Law, which prohibits unreasonable rent hikes and provides legal recourse for tenants, as part of broader efforts to address arbitrary rent increases in the state.
The resolutions reflect growing anxiety among lawmakers and citizens alike over Nigeria’s worsening housing affordability crisis.
