Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on Nigeria’s worsening housing and rental crisis, warning that millions of Nigerians are being priced out of decent accommodation by soaring rents and exploitative practices.
In an open letter addressed to the President on Tuesday, Adeyanju argued that the country’s housing situation had become a constitutional and human rights issue, particularly in major cities such as Abuja and Lagos, where he said tenants face excessive rent demands and arbitrary charges.
He said many landlords and estate agents compel tenants to pay two to three years’ rent in advance, alongside high agency fees, legal fees, service charges and caution fees, placing an unbearable financial burden on workers and families.
Adeyanju maintained that the current housing system contradicts the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which places the welfare of citizens as the primary purpose of government and calls for suitable and adequate shelter for Nigerians.
He also cited Nigeria’s obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, arguing that adequate housing is a fundamental human right and should not be treated solely as a commercial asset.
The activist warned that urban renewal projects must not result in the displacement of low and middle-income earners, including civil servants, artisans, remote workers and job seekers.
According to him, meaningful urban development should include affordable housing that allows workers to live close to their places of employment rather than forcing them into informal settlements.
Adeyanju urged the Federal Government to establish a presidential task force to develop a National Housing and Tenancy Policy within 90 days and, where necessary, transmit an Executive Bill on tenancy and fair rent standards to the National Assembly.
Among his proposals are a legal cap of 7.5 per cent on combined agency and legal fees, a five per cent ceiling on service charges, a one-year limit on advance rent payments and a ban on unrecoverable caution fees.
He also called for the creation of a digital tenant reporting platform to enable tenants report landlords and estate agents who violate housing regulations, backed by strict civil and criminal sanctions.
In addition, Adeyanju urged the government to expand low-cost public housing through increased investment, tax incentives and public-private partnerships to make housing more affordable for ordinary Nigerians.
He said history would judge the Tinubu administration not only by economic indicators but by how it protects the dignity and welfare of citizens during difficult economic times.
