“Soaring Rents Push Southeast Nigerians to the Brink Amid Economic Hardship

Rent prices in major Southeastern cities—such as Enugu, Awka, Abakaliki, Aba, Owerri, Onitsha, Umuahia, and others—have continued to rise sharply, putting immense financial pressure on residents. Civil servants, small business owners, and low-income earners are particularly affected, with many unable to keep up with the ever-increasing rent demands, even for old buildings. Landlords often justify these hikes by citing rising building material costs—even for properties built decades ago.

In Anambra State, the situation has forced many families out of urban centers like Awka to more affordable rural areas. Civil servants, like Augustine Okeke, have relocated to towns such as Nibo, where rent is relatively lower, though it comes with increased transportation costs and poorer infrastructure. Okeke’s rent jumped from N150,000 to N700,000 in just a few years, prompting a drastic change in his family’s lifestyle. Some residents blame the influx of internet fraudsters (popularly called Yahoo Boys), who have distorted the rental market by paying exorbitant fees without negotiation, enticing landlords to raise prices.

The rent surge isn’t limited to Anambra. In Imo State, Dr. Tony Ekwe, a former university dean, criticized state governments for abandoning housing responsibilities to private developers, resulting in exploitative practices. He also pointed to the student housing crisis in Owerri as a driver of inflated rent. Civil servant Theophilus Nwaoga recounted how rent hikes and additional agent and agreement fees forced him to seek accommodation on the outskirts of the city.

In Umuahia, Abia State, rent for a standard 3-bedroom flat ranges between N700,000 to N1.2 million. Agents and landlords blame demand from Yahoo Boys fleeing other cities, who are willing to pay high amounts without delay. Some landlords even demand two years’ rent upfront. Residents like Chinonso Eze and Charles Enakeze argue that the prices are unjustifiable, especially given Umuahia’s status as a non-commercial city.

Enugu has also seen steep hikes, with 3-bedroom apartments in average areas like Emene or Trans-Ekulu starting from N700,000, excluding added costs from agents and legal fees. In response, the Enugu State House of Assembly is working on the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to regulate rent, limit agency fees, and end exploitative practices. The bill has passed readings and a public hearing, and is now with a committee.

Other states are also taking action. In Ebonyi, rent in Abakaliki ranges from N750,000 to over N1.3 million for new buildings. The State Assembly is reviewing a bill to regulate landlord and agent activities. Similarly, landlords in Aba, like retiree Chimaobi Njoku, defend rent hikes as a necessary measure to survive inflation. Onitsha landlord Chief Albert Nwaozuzu blamed the trend on older-generation landlords who inherited properties and exploit tenants without making improvements.

Stories like that of Okechukwu Uzor in Nnewi show how some landlords are using eviction threats to constantly bring in new tenants willing to pay more. Residents across the region are calling on governments to invest in low-cost housing, enforce existing rent control laws, and curb the excesses of landlords and agents.