Adeyanju Urges Tinubu to Address Nigeria's Housing Crisis

Comrade Deji Adeyanju, a human rights lawyer and activist, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Nigeria’s housing sector, citing a worsening rental crisis as a national emergency. In an open letter, Adeyanju highlighted that millions of Nigerians, particularly in major cities like Abuja and Lagos, are struggling to find decent accommodation due to soaring rents and exploitative charges from landlords and estate agents.

He emphasized that this situation undermines the government's constitutional duty to protect citizens' welfare and access to adequate shelter. Adeyanju proposed the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Rental Reform to create a National Housing and Tenancy Policy within 90 days.

His recommendations include capping agency and legal fees, limiting advance rent to one year, abolishing non-refundable caution fees, and creating a digital platform for tenants to report exploitative practices. He stressed that affordable housing should be regarded as a constitutional right, not a privilege, as the crisis exacerbates poverty and economic hardship for many families.