House Rent Takes Annual Earnings Of Abuja Residents – Study

High cost of house rents has continued to eat deep into the income of households in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), forcing them to lower their standard of living.

A study by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja showed that many households now spend their annual earnings on accommodation, leaving little for food, transportation, healthcare, and school fees among other expenses.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s rent inflation rose to 33.8 per cent in July from 14.79 per cent in June.

Reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s Independence speech on reducing cost of living, some citizens appealed for regulations to lower rents and provide affordable housing.

Mr Olusegun Daniels, a business man residing at Karu told NAN that his two bedroom bungalow rent which was formally N1.5 million had now risen to N3.5 million per annum.

Daniels said the increase was more than 100 per cent and had affected his business negatively.

He said that the business had been slow making turnover nearly impossible.

”High cost of house and shop rents are really disturbing.

”I was paying N300,000 in my shop but it has increased to N450,000 and the thought of gathering these monies without a viable business is really a source of concern to me,” he said.

Mr Emeka Okafor, another business man residing at Wuse area of the FCT, said the cost of the one bedroom flat where he resided increased from one million naira to N1.8 million and later skyrocketed to two million naira.

Okafor who said he would have relocated to a nearby satellite area, noted that he still maintained the apartment due to its nearness to his business area.

”Business is not moving the way it should and our rents are doubling. We are merely struggling,” he said.

Mrs Evelyn Bode, a civil servant in Kubwa area of the FCT, said that a two-bedroom flat which formally cost between N600,000 and N800,000 in the area was presently being rented for between N1.5 million and two million naira per annum depending on the location and building.

Bode said that she had changed her children’s schools to cheaper ones and cut down some diets and feeding in her home.

”I can no longer pretend because things are getting tight by the day.

”Landlords don’t even mind whether your income increased or not, they just hike house rents at interval.

”With the way things are going, I no longer include some basic diets in my children’s meals.

”Most times, I go hungry so that my children can eat,” she said.

Mr Livinus Anya, also a civil servant, appealed to government at all levels to provide low-cost, affordable housing for its workers.

Anya who resides in Nyanya Area of the FCT, said his house rent increased from N600,000 in February 2025 to N1.6 million in December, 2025 in the same area.

”Before now, I do monthly contributions to gather money to pay for my rent which was N600,000 but now, even my annual contributions and savings from various quarters cannot even settle my rent.

”I have packed my vehicle permanently because I cannot afford to fuel the car, pay rent, school fees and feeding.

”The government should help us to make our dreams come true just like in other climes.

”President Tinubu during his Independence Day broadcast promised to reduce the cost of living of citizens. He can start by building affordable housing units for citizens,” he said.

He said that a two-bedroom flat in a new building in the area was now being rented for between N2 million and N2.5 million.

Mr Sani Musa, a teacher who resides in Lugbe area of the FCT, said that most landlords now demanded two years rent upfront, making it difficult for low-income earners to secure accommodation.

Musa attributed the hike in rents to include housing deficit, rural-urban migration and high cost of building materials among others.

He called on the government to institute regulations that would prevent landlords from increasing rents unreasonably.

”There should be a law that will stop landlords from exploiting their tenants and increasing rents by some percentage.

”If there is a law, it should be implemented because the situation is getting out of hand,” he said.

Abigail Abidolu, a civil servant in Apo Resettlement Area, said she had cut down every luxury and visits initially enjoyed by her family.

Abidolu who regretted that salaries had yet to increase substantially, said that trainings privileges in her work place which enabled them to get additional monies apart from salaries had been cancelled.

Abidolu said she started paying N500,000 in a one bedroom flat in the area but lamented that the rent had skyrocketed to N1.2 million.