The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has called on the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency on housing over rising rents across major cities, particularly in Lagos and Abuja.
The group said that the rising house rents have continued to impose severe financial pressure on Nigerians.
It noted with concern that rent increases of between 30 and 70 per cent have become commonplace, with many citizens now spending more than half of their monthly income on accommodation alone.
This trend, HDAN stated has pushed housing beyond affordability for workers, young professionals, families, and small business owners, worsening poverty and social inequality.
The Executive Director of HDAN, Barrister Festus Adebayo, in a statement stated that the housing crisis has moved beyond market fluctuation and now qualifies as a national emergency requiring urgent and coordinated government action.
“Housing is no longer just expensive; it is becoming inaccessible. When citizens cannot afford decent shelter, the consequences show up in health, productivity, security, and urban stability. Government must treat this as an emergency,” Adebayo said.
He identified key drivers of the crisis to include rapid urban migration, rising construction and maintenance costs, weak tenancy regulation, limited supply of affordable rental housing, and the growing dominance of short-let apartments over long-term rentals.
According to him, Abuja alone adds about 500 people to its population daily, yet housing supply, especially affordable and rental units—has failed to keep pace.
“The result is intense pressure on existing housing stock and unchecked rent increases.
This is not just a housing problem; it is a workforce, transport, and social stability problem. Teachers, civil servants, healthcare workers, artisans, and young Nigerians are being priced out of the cities they serve,” Adebayo added.
He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency on housing to fast-track policy, funding, and regulatory interventions.
“The Federal Government should scale up the delivery of affordable and rental housing through public–private partnerships. Enforce and strengthen tenancy and rent regulation to protect citizens from arbitrary rent hikes.
“It should also expand access to affordable mortgages and rent-to-own schemes, and support states with infrastructure funding to open up satellite towns and reduce pressure on city centres”, Adebayo said.
He canvassed the need for a state of emergency on housing to fast-track policy, funding, and regulatory interventions, scale up the delivery of affordable and rental housing through public–private partnerships and enforce and strengthen tenancy and rent regulation to protect citizens from arbitrary rent hikes.
Also, he called for expansion to affordable mortgages and access to affordable mortgages and rent-to-own schemes including supporting states with infrastructure funding to open up satellite towns and reduce pressure on city centres.
According to him this is not just a housing problem; it is a workforce, transport, and social stability problem. Teachers, civil servants, healthcare workers, artisans, and young Nigerians are being priced out of the cities they serve,” Adebayo stated.
“Housing is a social responsibility of the government declaring a state of emergency will signal seriousness, mobilise resources, and restore hope to millions of Nigerians struggling under the weight of rising rent,” he added.
