More than 80 per cent of residents in Rivers State now spend over 100 per cent of their income on house rent, highlighting a deepening housing crisis in the state.
According to NAN, Mr Ceaser Enwefah, the Executive Secretary of the National Union of Tenants of Nigeria (NUTN), disclosed this on Monday, May 4, in a letter addressed to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The union noted that the hike in rental rates, which rose sharply between 2023 and 2025, is more severe in Port Harcourt, and Obio-Akpor, located less than 30 minutes from the state capital.
What they are saying
Enwefah explained that the rising cost of rent has left many residents unable to meet basic needs, further worsening poverty levels in the state.
- “Rental costs now account for significant portion of the high cost of living in the capital city, pushing many residents into extreme hardship.”
He urged the state government to prioritise the housing sector and introduce regulatory measures to curb excesses in the market, including oversight of estate agents and illegal property conversions.
- Warning of future risks, he added, “The crises could escalate into widespread homelessness, slum development and social tension by 2030.”
He also cautioned that the situation could make key urban areas economically and socially unstable if left unchecked.
The NUTN official further recommended stricter enforcement measures, the creation of a housing data system to track rent trends, increased land allocation for low-income housing, and the construction of student hostels to ease pressure on available accommodation.
More insights
Data from the union shows a steep rise in rental costs across major housing categories in recent years.
- According to Enwefah, self-contained apartments now cost about N800,000 annually, while one-bedroom flats go for around N1.5 million. Two-bedroom apartments range between N2 million and N2.5 million, while three-bedroom flats cost between N3 million and N4 million.
He warned that rents could climb even higher by December 2026, potentially putting housing further out of reach for average residents, adding that many people are already leaving the city due to the rising cost of living.
- Findings from a recent fact-finding study by the union show that rental prices surged significantly between 2023 and 2025. For instance, the cost of a single room increased from N60,000 in 2022 to N180,000 in 2026, while self-contained apartments rose from N150,000 to N800,000 within the same period.
The increase has been linked to factors such as a housing deficit, demolition of buildings for infrastructure projects like the Port Harcourt Ring Road, activities of unregulated agents, and the conversion of residential buildings for commercial use.
What you should know
Rivers’ housing crisis mirrors trends seen in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, where residents are also grappling with rising rent costs.
- An October 2025 report by Nairametrics showed that rental prices in Lagos surged sharply, with some properties recording increases of up to 80% within a year.
- In another report, the platform noted that two-bedroom apartments, among the most in-demand units, cost as high as N2.6 million in areas like Gbagada, while prime locations such as Eko Atlantic City command average annual rents of up to N26.6 million.
The growing pressure on housing affordability across major Nigerian cities continues to raise concerns about urban living standards and economic sustainability.
