By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA – Human rights lawyer and activist, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on Nigeria’s housing and rental crisis, warning that rising rent costs and what he described as exploitative practices by landlords and estate agents are pushing millions of Nigerians into hardship.
In an open letter addressed to the President, Adeyanju argued that the country’s housing situation has become a national emergency requiring immediate executive and legislative intervention.
He said many Nigerians, particularly in Abuja, Lagos and other major cities, are struggling with soaring rents, multiple years of advance rent demands, excessive agency and legal fees, high service charges, and caution fees that are often not refunded.
According to him, access to decent housing is a constitutional obligation of government and should not be treated as a privilege available only to the wealthy.
The lawyer cited Sections 14 and 16 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which place responsibility on government to promote the welfare of citizens and ensure access to adequate shelter. He also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which recognizes adequate housing as a fundamental human right.
Adeyanju further argued that urban renewal projects should be designed to accommodate low- and middle-income earners, including civil servants, artisans, remote workers, and other essential members of the workforce, rather than displacing them through rising housing costs.
He maintained that unchecked rental practices contribute to poverty, economic inequality, and the growth of informal settlements, adding that meaningful housing reforms are necessary to protect vulnerable Nigerians.
Among his recommendations, Adeyanju urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the housing sector and establish a Presidential Taskforce on Rental Reform to develop a comprehensive national housing and tenancy policy.
He also proposed legislative measures to cap agency and legal fees at a combined maximum of 7.5 percent of annual rent, limit service charges to five percent of annual rent, restrict landlords to collecting no more than one year of rent in advance, and prohibit the collection of non-refundable caution fees.
In addition, he called for the creation of a digital platform through which tenants can report exploitative landlords and agents, backed by strict sanctions for offenders.
The activist also advocated increased investment in affordable housing through public-private partnerships, tax incentives, and expanded social housing programmes targeted at low- and middle-income Nigerians.
Adeyanju concluded by urging President Tinubu to treat housing as a matter of national importance, insisting that protecting citizens’ access to decent shelter is both a constitutional responsibility and a fundamental human rights obligation.
