Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called for legislation requiring landlords to verify the identities of prospective tenants as part of efforts to strengthen security and regulate Nigeria’s rental housing market.

Akpabio raised the proposal during Senate deliberations on October 27, 2026, expressing concern that poorly documented rental arrangements could make it easier for criminals to evade identification.

He argued that some landlords rent out properties without obtaining adequate information about occupants, making it difficult for security agencies to trace individuals when crimes occur.

“A lot of people just give their properties to strangers. They don’t even have any papers to know where they come from,” Akpabio said.

He also warned that some individuals allegedly use telephone numbers belonging to other people when renting properties, complicating investigations.

“We are making a law that tenants must rent houses with their NIN,” he stated.

Drawing comparisons with banking regulations, the Senate President described the proposal as a form of tenant verification.

“As you know in the bank, they say, know your customer; this one we can say, know your tenants,” he added.

Akpabio urged lawmakers to consider legislation that would initially cover the Federal Capital Territory, with recognised identification, potentially including the National Identification Number, forming part of the proposed verification process.

Tambuwal Backs Broader Tenancy Regulation

Senator Aminu Tambuwal also supported wider reforms to Nigeria’s rental housing system.

His proposed areas of focus include tenant registration, rent control, security checks and verification of property ownership.

The discussions extend beyond security concerns to longstanding challenges affecting renters, including fraudulent property transactions, excessive charges and disputes over rental deposits.

A more structured tenancy system could introduce clearer responsibilities for landlords and tenants while improving documentation and accountability.

SimpleRooms Promotes Digital Rental Solutions

Private-sector technology is also emerging as part of the conversation around rental sector reforms.

SimpleRooms, a Nigerian rental platform, promotes zero-commission property listings, direct engagement between landlords and tenants, transparent transactions and improved rental documentation.

The platform provides property listings, landlord support, referencing and rental documentation services.

Its founder, Biodun Olusesan, said the company’s objective is to make property rentals more accessible and transparent.

“Our mission is to empower Nigerians by providing a direct, transparent, and cost-effective way to manage rental properties,” Olusesan said.

The platform’s approach highlights how digital services could complement government regulation by improving access to rental information and supporting documented transactions.

Proposed National Tenancy Scheme Seeks Tenant Protection

Mentoring Commandant Alistair, a good governance and leadership advocate, has also championed a proposed National Tenancy Scheme aimed at protecting renters through documented transactions and independent dispute resolution.

According to the proposal, the initiative has been discussed with the Federal Ministry of Housing and its directors.

The organisers intend to pursue wider engagement under the ministry’s new leadership and present the proposal to the National Assembly.

Mentoring Commandant said tenant identification should go hand in hand with protections for people seeking accommodation.

“Knowing your tenant is important, but knowing that tenants’ wellbeing is protected is equally essential. Nigeria needs a rental system where landlords are verified, tenants are accountable, and nobody loses simply because they are looking for somewhere to live,” he said.

The proposed framework would draw on international tenancy and landlord-protection practices while considering Nigeria’s housing conditions.

Nigeria’s Rental Market Faces Opportunity For Reform

The renewed legislative debate presents an opportunity to address several weaknesses in Nigeria’s rental housing system.

Combining responsible identity verification with digital rental services, documented agreements and accessible dispute-resolution procedures could improve transparency across the sector.

However, effective tenancy regulation would also need to protect tenants’ personal information, prevent discriminatory practices and ensure that identification requirements do not create additional barriers for people seeking accommodation.

For lawmakers and housing stakeholders, the challenge is to develop a framework that balances security, landlord accountability and tenant protection while supporting a more transparent and accessible rental market.

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The Federal Capital Territory Administration has officially commissioned the newly completed Gaduwa District road network as part of its ongoing 30-day infrastructure unveiling initiative. The newly delivered infrastructure project is aimed at completely transforming the transportation architecture within Abuja’s rapidly expanding southern development axis. The commissioning ceremony signals a decisive step toward eliminating the historical backlog of uncompleted and critical public works across the nation’s capital.

Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the executive ceremony, Senate President Godswill Akpabio lauded the exceptional pace of construction and urban transformation currently unfolding across the territory. Akpabio stated that the completion of the expansive arterial network directly fulfills the central mandates of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes the rapid delivery of motorable corridors to stimulate commerce and improve the baseline standard of living for urban residents. He further noted that the strategic utilization of top-tier engineering firms ensures the long-term durability of the FCT’s newly constructed transport pathways.

Speaking during the presentation, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike restated the administration’s policy regarding the continuity of public projects funded through taxpayers’ resources. Wike revealed that approximately 80 percent of the engineering and structural projects completed under his current tenure were carried over from previous administrative eras, emphasizing that abandoning inherited infrastructure wastes valuable public funds. The minister affirmed that the newly optimized Gaduwa District road network will significantly mitigate daily traffic bottlenecks for surrounding commuter corridors, while simultaneously opening up adjacent neighborhoods to upscale real estate and commercial investments.

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President Bola Tinubu has charged the inhabitants of Gomani, Dafa, and Yangoji within the Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory to actively protect the newly inaugurated Gomani–Dafa–Yangoji Road. Speaking on the project’s completion, the President emphasized that the regime of uncompleted public infrastructure across the country has officially drawn to a close.

The President’s message was delivered by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during the formal opening ceremony of the thoroughfare, as detailed in a statement released by the media aide to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, June 30.

Tinubu stressed that the ultimate duty of preserving the structural integrity of the highway now falls upon the host communities. He admonished the local population to view the infrastructure as a shared legacy meant to serve both current and upcoming generations. Addressing traditional rulers, community stakeholders, agriculturalists, merchants, and local youths, the President maintained that the infrastructure belongs to the public and must be heavily guarded against abuse.

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The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday raised concerns over the worsening welfare conditions of Nigerian diplomats abroad, revealing that many of their children are being withdrawn from schools due to unpaid fees.

Akpabio made the disclosure during the screening of Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye for the position of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

“It has come to our notice that children of Nigerian diplomats serving in various countries abroad have been withdrawn from school because their parents cannot afford to pay their school fees,” he said.

He attributed the development to the non-payment of salaries and allowances owed to the diplomats by the Federal Government.

“These diplomats can’t pay their children’s school fees because their salaries and allowances are not being paid by the Nigerian government,” he added.

Although the Senate President did not specify the countries affected, he described the situation as “pathetic” and requiring urgent attention.

Akpabio clarified that his remarks were not intended as criticism of the Federal Government but rather a call for immediate intervention to address the welfare challenges faced by Nigerian diplomats overseas.

He urged the ministerial nominee to outline strategies for resolving the issue if confirmed.

Ambassador Enikanolaye was subsequently confirmed after presenting his credentials and detailing his over three decades of diplomatic experience, including postings in countries such as Canada.

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The Senate has revealed that about $303 billion in proceeds from stolen crude oil transactions both local and international remain unaccounted for.

This disclosure came on Wednesday as the upper chamber received an interim report from its Ad Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Related Sabotage in the Niger Delta, chaired by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North).

According to the report, forensic investigations conducted by independent consultants uncovered missing funds of $22 billion, $81 billion, and $200 billion across different periods.

The committee recommended that the Federal Government enforce internationally recognized crude oil measurement standards at all production and export terminals. It also urged the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to deploy modern measuring technologies or transfer the task to the Weights and Measures Department under the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.

To curb theft, the report further proposed the deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and an integrity pipeline monitoring system, as well as the establishment of a Maritime Trust Fund to enhance maritime infrastructure, safety, and security.

The committee also called for the creation of a special court to expedite the prosecution of crude oil thieves and their collaborators. It advised immediate implementation of the Host Communities Development Trust Fund under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to reduce sabotage and hand over abandoned wells to modular refineries for local production.

During deliberations, several lawmakers expressed mixed reactions to the report.

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) cautioned that while the committee could trace losses, it lacked constitutional power to recover stolen funds.

Senator Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West) urged the consultants to name the companies and individuals involved.

Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin (Kano North) clarified that the National Assembly could only recommend recovery to the executive arm.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the committee’s efforts, directing it to continue investigations and present a comprehensive final report before any recommendations are adopted.

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