Abuja has emerged as the most preferred relocation destination for Nigerians seeking better opportunities and improved family wellbeing, despite growing concerns over high rents, rising living costs and electricity challenges, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence.

The report, titled “Where Nigerian Families Actually Thrive,” evaluated quality-of-life indicators across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and seven states, including Anambra, Bauchi, Cross River, Kano, Lagos, Oyo and Rivers.

The study assessed key factors influencing family wellbeing such as income levels, housing affordability, healthcare, education, safety, infrastructure and social support systems.

Abuja Leads as Nigerians’ Preferred Relocation Destination

According to the report, Abuja recorded 65 mentions from respondents who indicated they would relocate from their current locations if given the opportunity, making it the most desired destination nationwide.

Lagos followed with 42 mentions, while Anambra, Enugu and Uyo received 11, seven and six mentions respectively.

SBM Intelligence noted that the findings reveal a clear pattern, with many Nigerians viewing Abuja as the city that offers the best prospects for their families.

The report attributed Abuja’s appeal largely to its status as Nigeria’s seat of government, its perceived economic opportunities, and its reputation for order, security and stability.

“Abuja is where Nigerians across all regions want to move for their children’s sake,” the report stated.

Abuja’s Reputation Differs From Residents’ Reality

Despite its popularity among prospective movers, Abuja ranked only fourth overall in the report’s composite quality-of-life index.

With a score of 2.97 out of five, the Federal Capital Territory trailed Kano (3.92), Rivers (3.29) and Oyo (3.09).

SBM Intelligence described Abuja as a city whose image often differs from the realities experienced by residents.

“The irony is instructive,” the report noted, highlighting the gap between Abuja’s attractiveness and its actual quality-of-life performance.

Abuja Records Highest Income Levels

One of Abuja’s strongest advantages remains income generation.

The report found that the FCT achieved the highest income score among all locations surveyed, recording 3.16 out of five.

More than 41 percent of respondents reported earning between N500,000 and N999,999 monthly, while nearly 10 percent said they earned at least N1 million per month.

However, researchers observed that higher earnings do not necessarily translate into financial security for many households.

According to the findings, a significant portion of residents’ income is consumed by housing, transportation and utility costs, leaving limited room for savings or emergency expenses.

Housing Costs and Affordability Remain Major Challenges

The report identified affordability as one of Abuja’s weakest areas.

On housing affordability and the general cost of family living, the city scored 2.25 out of five, ranking behind Kano, Rivers and Oyo.

The findings align with increasing concerns about the cost of living in Nigeria’s capital, particularly the rapid rise in residential rents.

SBM Intelligence referenced a separate 2026 study indicating that a monthly income of N300,000 is becoming increasingly inadequate in Abuja, with rent alone consuming up to 40 percent of earnings for many workers.

Residents Express Low Confidence in Electricity Supply

The report also revealed growing dissatisfaction with electricity supply in the FCT.

Only 19 percent of Abuja residents surveyed expressed confidence that power supply would improve within the next two years—the lowest optimism level recorded among all locations studied.

SBM Intelligence described this as a significant indication of public concern regarding one of the capital’s most persistent infrastructure challenges.

Abuja Remains Nigeria’s City of Aspiration

Despite affordability pressures, rising rents and concerns over electricity supply, Abuja continues to be viewed as Nigeria’s leading city of opportunity.

SBM Intelligence concluded that while the capital may not currently offer the highest quality of life, it remains the destination many Nigerians believe provides the best future for their families.

The report described Abuja as “the aspiration, not the reality,” underscoring the gap between perception and everyday experiences.

The post Abuja Emerges Most Preferred Relocation Destination Despite High Rent, Living Costs – SBM Report appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

By Usman Abdulrasak

For decades, homeownership has been the ultimate marker of stability for Nigeria’s middle class. A house symbolized not just shelter, but also economic progress, social mobility, and a form of security to pass down to the next generation. Today, however, that aspiration is slipping further away. For many families in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and beyond, the dream of owning a home feels more distant than ever.

The most glaring challenge is the mismatch between housing costs and earnings. Nigeria’s official housing deficit stands at over 28 million units, and the limited supply has driven prices far beyond the reach of average workers. Land in major cities is heavily inflated, construction materials are tied to volatile foreign exchange rates, and inflation continues to erode household savings. Meanwhile, salaries for teachers, civil servants, bankers, and other middle-class professionals have remained largely stagnant. The result is a widening affordability gap that locks families out of the market.

Rent has become the single largest financial burden for many households. In Lagos, tenants often pay one or two years’ rent upfront, with prices that swallow nearly half of their annual income. In Abuja, prime locations remain reserved for elites and expatriates, while middle-income families are pushed to satellite towns, enduring long commutes and high transport costs. This cycle of heavy rent obligations prevents families from saving toward ownership, leaving them perpetual tenants in an increasingly hostile market.

Access to mortgages, which should bridge this gap, remains limited. Nigeria’s mortgage penetration is less than 1% of GDP, one of the lowest in Africa. High interest rates often in double digits combined with short repayment tenures make mortgages unaffordable for the very people who need them most. A civil servant or banker earning a steady salary may still find the monthly repayments higher than their take-home pay. Instead of enabling access, the financial system often reinforces exclusion.

Policy failures add another layer of difficulty. Land administration remains opaque and riddled with bureaucracy, with multiple claims on titles discouraging genuine buyers. Government housing projects, while well-intentioned, are too few to meet demand and often end up in the hands of wealthier buyers who can pay upfront. Speculative investors treat housing as an asset to trade rather than a social necessity, driving prices higher while leaving units unoccupied.

The implications for Nigeria’s middle class are profound. Without access to secure housing, families face instability that affects education, health, and overall well-being. Young professionals are delaying family formation because they cannot afford a home, while older generations struggle to provide a legacy for their children. At the national scale, the failure to make housing accessible deepens inequality and undermines social cohesion.

Reversing this trend requires bold action. Nigeria needs large-scale affordable housing projects built with local materials to reduce costs and create jobs. Mortgage products must be redesigned with longer repayment periods and lower interest rates, backed by government guarantees. Land administration should be digitized and simplified to reduce corruption and cut down processing time. Rent-to-own models can offer middle-class tenants a pathway into ownership, while public-private partnerships can ensure that developers, banks, and government agencies work together to deliver truly affordable housing.

Homeownership in Nigeria is not a luxury; it is a necessity that underpins social stability and economic growth. If decisive action is not taken, millions of middle-class families the backbone of the country’s economy will remain locked out of one of life’s most important milestones. For them, the dream is simple: a place of dignity, stability, and security to call home. Whether Nigeria will rise to meet this challenge or allow the dream to keep slipping away remains an urgent question.

The post Why Homeownership Is Slipping Further Away for Middle-Class Families in Nigeria appeared first on Housing TV Africa.