N1.5m rent vs N70k minimum wage: Nigerians groan over excessive house rent in Lagos, Abuja

2026-02-10 - 17:39

Nigerians are increasingly expressing frustration over soaring apartment rents in major cities, where two-bedroom flats now cost far beyond the reach of average earners. In Lagos neighborhoods such as Lekki and Surulere, annual rents for two-bedroom apartments now average ₦1.5 million to ₦4 million, with upfront payments and agent fees pushing totals to ₦2.5 million–₦6 million. These figures dwarf the national minimum wage of ₦70,000 per month and exceed the average yearly salaries of ₦2.75–₦3.4 million. Sudden 50–70% rent hikes are forcing families to seek concessions, relocate to villages, or share accommodations. The shortage of housing—estimated at 15–20 million units nationwide—has compounded the crisis, with critics blaming landlords, agents, and market manipulations for inflating demand. Citizens are calling for rent caps, improved transportation links, and increased housing construction to alleviate pressure, even as the federal government’s housing strategy seeks to address the deficit. The issue has sparked widespread conversation on social media: @_ellaru tweeted: “A salary of 200k which is 2.4M a year can’t get you a good apartment on the mainland still. And that’s if you keep the entire salary without spending out of it.” @Morris_Monye noted: “I believe the Lagos rent bubble will burst soon. Lagosians simply don’t earn enough to afford such rent.” @lanreadelowo added: “We need more housing in Lagos tbh. Like an awful lot more. Seeing people work all year round and struggling to meet up with rent is insane...” @thatguytelvin commented: “It’s becoming abnormal at this point! If you want a really comfortable apartment in Lagos now you must have millions of naira... after the first year they move out. This is not life tbh.” @callmetobiloba wrote: “Lagos landlords will swear they don’t want to rent out their houses to fraudsters and go ahead to charge exorbitant house rents that people with decent and doing legal jobs cannot afford.” @Nedumcity_ shared his experience in Abuja: “I was told my 1.5m can’t get me a 2 bedroom empty apartment in Wuse. I was told to come with 3m. After paying, I will still pay crazy agency, legal and caution fee that adds another 20–30% on top.” With urban housing costs rising sharply, many Nigerians are struggling to keep up, fueling debates over affordability, fairness, and the urgent need for government intervention. Vanguard News