Abuja – January 15, 2024 – Viewpoint Housing News.

A civil society organisation under the aegis of Take-It-Back Movement (TIB) have lamented the impact of high rents on the incomes of people nationwide and demanded government action.

Despite the fact that considerable inflation has driven up the cost of main building materials, particularly for new construction, landlords and property owners are abusing this trend to cause hardship for prospective tenants.

Rent in Lagos increased by over 200 per cent in the last one year. A three-bedroom flat that was previously between N500, 000 to N800, 000 has increased to N1.5 million. This is aside from other charges such as caution fee, agent, legal and form fees. A two-bedroom is as high as N1million and N1.2million, while a self-contained unit could be as high as N600, 000 or N1million in some highbrow locations.

At a peaceful protest against the high cost of housing in the state, the group lamented the rising cost of housing, particularly in Lagos Island and other areas, describing it as unaffordable for the masses.

A statement by the Lagos Island chapter of TIB, said the protest is strongly against the unaffordable cost of housing. It said: “No doubt, this is a national call to enforce housing rights. Housing is a fundamental human right, and the government has a duty to ensure it is available to all citizens.”

The association further said with Nigeria’s housing deficit within the range of 28 million and an estimated N21 trillion needed to close the gap, states across the country must learn to emulate the Sokoto state government which recently embarked on construction of a 500-unit housing estate in the state.

It described the step by the governor as commendable and worthy of emulation by other state governments.