Southeast Tenants Groan As Rents Continue To Skyrocket In Region — Jungle Journalist Media Limited

Residents of Nigeria’s Southeast are increasingly overwhelmed by the surge in house rents, with many describing the situation as unbearable and suffocating.

From major cities to smaller towns, tenants say the relentless hike in rent prices is leaving them financially strained and desperate.

From Enugu to Awka, Onitsha, Umuahia, Aba, and other major towns, tenants are lamenting sharp increases in yearly rent prices, with some landlords now demanding as much as two to three years’ rent upfront.

In Awka, the Anambra State capital, a three-bedroom apartment that previously went for between ₦450,000 and ₦800,000 annually now costs up to ₦1.5 million in some locations.

In Enugu and Abia States, residents report similar patterns, with a 2-bedroom apartment that cost ₦300,000 a few years ago now fetching over ₦700,000.

“The rent is no longer something the average salary earner can handle. It’s either you get a house in a remote village or just move back to your father’s compound,” said Chinyere Ndukwe, a teacher in Onitsha.

Landlords and real estate agents have attributed the spike in rent to inflation, rising cost of building materials, and the general economic downturn, but tenants argue that the increases are arbitrary and often exploitative.

“It’s no longer about inflation. Some landlords are just greedy. They do not renovate the houses or improve anything, yet they increase the rent every year,” another tenant in Umuahia complained.

Agents have also come under criticism for inflating prices and charging excessive commission and legal fees, which sometimes equal or exceed the rent itself.

The rising cost of housing comes at a time when many families are grappling with economic hardship, high unemployment, and stagnant wages. Civil servants, students, traders, and artisans are among the most affected.

According to real estate experts, Nigeria has a housing deficit of over 28 million units, and the Southeast region contributes significantly to that figure.

The low supply of affordable homes has kept demand high, creating a seller’s market that heavily favours landlords.

In response, some state governments, particularly Enugu, have begun taking steps to introduce rent control measures. The state assembly is currently considering a bill aimed at regulating rent increases and protecting tenants from sudden evictions.

The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has also called for urgent reforms to curb the crisis. The association is advocating for subsidized building materials, tax incentives for developers, and greater investment in low-income housing.

Until serious and deliberate measures are taken by state governments through their various Houses of Assembly, many Southeast residents say the pain of skyrocketing rents won’t go away anytime soon. For now, they remain stuck with limited options and mounting pressure, hoping for swift and lasting solutions to ease their burden.