Rents across Lagos have risen by as much as 100 per cent in a year, leaving tenants struggling as incomes stagnate and housing supply tightens.
In Mushin, Abosede Sanya’s two-bedroom flat jumped from ₦800,000 to ₦1.5 million despite only a modest income increase. “I stayed because other apartments now cost the same,” she said.
Similar spikes are reported across Ogba, Ikorodu, and Akute, where some tenants face rent hikes of over 80 per cent. Real estate agents say inflation and rising maintenance costs have shortened the review cycle for landlords, with many revising rents yearly.
The trend extends to Abuja and Port Harcourt, where rents on modest apartments have nearly doubled. Experts blame population growth, limited housing stock, and economic instability for the surge.
A recent report shows Lagos needs over 227,000 new homes annually to meet demand, yet supply remains far below target.
While tenancy laws exist to curb arbitrary increases, enforcement is weak, leaving many renters trapped in costly leases or forced into overcrowded alternatives.
