The National Union of Tenants of Nigeria (NUTN) has raised alarm over the worsening housing situation in Rivers State, warning that more than 80 per cent of residents in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor now spend all their income on rent.
In a letter to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the union’s Executive Secretary, Ceaser Enwefah, described the situation as a deepening crisis with severe social and economic consequences for residents.
He said the rising cost of accommodation has pushed many households into extreme hardship, leaving them unable to afford basic necessities.
“Rental costs now account for significant portion of the high cost of living in the capital city, pushing many residents into extreme hardship,” he stated.
Soaring rent across housing categories
Enwefah noted that rent levels have reached unprecedented heights across all housing types in the state capital and surrounding areas.
According to him:
- Self-contained apartments now cost about ₦800,000 annually
- One-bedroom flats go for around ₦1.5 million
- Two-bedroom apartments range between ₦2 million and ₦2.5 million
- Three-bedroom flats cost between ₦3 million and ₦4 million
He warned that prices could rise further by December 2026, making housing even more unaffordable for average earners.
Rising displacement and social pressure
The union also warned that many residents are already leaving Port Harcourt due to rising living costs.
“A significant part of the population is fleeing the capital city to escape the high cost of accommodation and harsh economic impact of rising rents,” Enwefah said.
He added that if left unchecked, the situation could escalate into homelessness, slum expansion, and social instability by 2030.
Causes of the housing pressure
A fact-finding study by the union attributed the crisis to multiple factors, including:
- Housing deficit in the state
- Demolition linked to infrastructure projects such as the Port Harcourt Ring Road
- Activities of unregulated estate agents
- Conversion of residential buildings to commercial use
- Urban planning violations reducing available housing stock
The study showed sharp rent increases between 2023 and 2025, with single rooms rising from ₦60,000 in 2022 to ₦180,000 in 2026, and self-contained apartments jumping from ₦150,000 to ₦800,000.
Calls for urgent government action
The union urged the state government to declare the housing sector a priority area and introduce urgent regulatory reforms.
Recommendations include:
- Regulation of estate agents
- Enforcement against illegal property conversion
- Creation of a housing data system to track rent trends
- Increased land allocation for low-income housing
- Construction of student hostels to reduce pressure on the rental market
Enwefah stressed that coordinated intervention is needed to stabilise the housing market and prevent further economic strain on residents.
