REWRITTEN FROM: Punch News

The nationwide rent crisis Nigeria is worsening as middle-income tenants are finding it increasingly difficult to afford two-bedroom apartments. In many cities, the median annual rent for such units has surged to about ₦2.5 million, a steep climb from what was standard just a few years ago. From inner parts of Benin with flats going for ₦250,000, to luxury two-bedroom homes in Lagos fetching ₦20 million, the affordability gap is now squeezing millions of Nigerian households.

In Lagos, where demand, prestige, and location drive prices, two-bedroom flats in Ikeja, Magodo, and Ikoyi are now being listed between ₦4 million and ₦20 million annually, depending on neighbourhood, amenities, and finishing. In contrast, cities like Ibadan, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Abuja also reflect this rise: average two-bedroom rents in solid neighbourhoods are now hovering around ₦1.5-2.5 million, with premium districts going much higher.

Why Two-Bedroom Flats Are a Key Barometer

Two-bedroom apartments are often considered the “middle ground” for many Nigerians—suitable for small families, professionals, young couples—offering a balance between space, comfort, and cost. When rents for this category begin to spiral, they signal trouble for a large swath of the population because single-bedroom units are usually small and cramped, and larger homes are beyond reach for many.

Disparities by City & Amenity

Gloria Oyogho, resident in Jos (Plateau State), highlights how much finishing and infrastructure influence rent. In well-finished areas with clean water and stable electricity, two-bedroom rents in Jos now run between ₦1.5-2.5 million; in “less standard” sections, the same sized flat may cost ₦500,000-₦800,000, but still suffer from erratic water and power supply.

Abuja shows one of the widest spreads: areas like Karu, Kubwa, Maraba average ₦1.5-2.5 million; Wuse-2, Jabi, and Jahi see prices around ₦2.5-3 million; while elite districts like Maitama and Asokoro push two-bedroom rents up to ₦10 million or more annually.

What’s Fueling the Rent Surge?

Several forces are combining in Nigeria to drive the surge in rents:

• Cost inflation: Building materials have become much more expensive due to foreign exchange issues, high import costs, and general inflation. Land, labour, steel, cement—all factor in heavily.
• High demand vs low supply: Rapid urbanization, population growth, and migration into city centres mean demand outstrips the rate at which new housing is built.
• Amenities & infrastructure: Power reliability, water supply, road access, finishing quality are now critical differentiators. Flats lacking in these are cheaper—but tenants often pay more over time through extra costs.
• Location prestige: Proximity to central business districts, good roads, social services, and security heavily influence rent. Luxury districts get premium pay.

The Human Impact

For millions, paying rent has become a painful trade-off: cutting other essentials to afford housing. Middle-income earners now spend larger shares of their income—sometimes 40%-60%—on rent. Some are forced to relocate further away, endure long commutes, accept worse services, or move into overcrowded or poorly serviced flats. Many feel the rental market is no longer transparent or fair, with landlords raising rents arbitrarily and rental agents adding hidden charges.

What Can Be Done?

To address the nationwide rent crisis Nigeria, experts are calling for both policy and market interventions:

• Affordable housing schemes sponsored by government and private developers to increase supply
• Regulation or guidelines for rent hikes, especially for two-bedroom units which serve many families
• Incentives for using local building materials and improving infrastructure (power, water, roads) to bring down finishing costs
• Rent-to-own programs, longer leases, and transparent rental portals so tenants can see baseline costs and avoid overpayment
• Tax breaks or subsidy schemes for developers building housing for middle-income earners

Conclusion

Nigeria is facing a serious housing affordability challenge. The housing option that once represented comfort and middleclass stability—the two-bedroom flat—is becoming a luxury item for many. Unless urgent action is taken, the nationwide rent crisis Nigeria will deepen, feeding inequality, reducing quality of life, and pushing more families into housing insecurity. The time to act is now.