In a major legislative move, the House of Representatives (Nigeria) adopted a motion urging the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and state governments to curb arbitrary rent increases across Nigeria. The motion, moved by Hon. Bassey Akiba, proposes capping annual rent hikes at no more than 20 percent of existing rates, regardless of improvements in infrastructure or amenities.
Lawmakers pointed to a disturbing trend: in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), rents reportedly soared from ₦800,000 to as much as ₦2.5 million after new roads or infrastructure projects. The House described this as “wanton exploitation” of tenants in a fragile economy.
Another dimension: the motion linked welfare policy and housing affordability — arguing that unless rental costs are controlled, government infrastructure investments may accentuate inequality rather than reduce it. The House tasked its Committee on Housing & Habitat to monitor compliance and to hold states to account.
Implementation challenges loom. Nigeria’s states have diverse tenancy laws and enforcement capacity is uneven. Landlords warn that caps may discourage investment in maintenance or new construction. Housing analysts caution that without simultaneous expansion of affordable housing stock, caps alone may provoke unintended consequences. Nonetheless, the move signals growing legislative recognition that housing-cost inflation is a national crisis.