Abuja: 80% of Rivers residents are reportedly spending their income on rent as the National Union of Tenants of Nigeria (NUTN) raises alarms over the escalating rental costs in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor Local Government Area. The union has labeled the situation as a crisis posing significant social and economic challenges for the capital’s inhabitants.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Executive Secretary of NUTN, Mr. Ceaser Enwefah, expressed these concerns in a letter to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, highlighting that more than 80% of residents are spending over 100% of their income on rent. Enwefah urged the state government to take immediate action to avert a full-scale housing crisis. He pointed out that the current rental costs are contributing to a rise in poverty levels as residents struggle to meet other essential needs.
Mr. Enwefah also detailed the unprecedented levels of rental rates across various housing categories in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor. He disclosed that self-contained apartments cost approximately N800,000 annually, while one-bedroom flats are priced at N1.5 million. The cost of two-bedroom apartments ranges from N2 million to N2.5 million, and three-bedroom flats range from N3 million to N4 million. He projected further increases by December 2026, cautioning that rents might become unaffordable for average residents.
The NUTN’s recent fact-finding study identified several factors contributing to the rent increases, including a housing deficit, the demolition of structures for the Port Harcourt Ring Road and Bridges project, and the activities of unregulated agents. Additional factors such as structural modifications by landlords, conversion of residential buildings to commercial use, and urban planning violations were also cited as exacerbating the housing crisis.
Enwefah warned of potential consequences if the situation remains unaddressed, including economic unwelcomeness, social instability, homelessness, slum development, and social tensions by 2030. He urged Governor Fubara to declare the housing sector a priority area, recommending executive orders to regulate estate agents and prevent illegal housing conversions. The union also called for sanctions against violators, the establishment of a housing data system to track rent levels, increased land allocation for low-income housing, and the construction of student hostels near tertiary institutions.