The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has called on the National Assembly to urgently pass legislation to regulate rents and agency fees in the Federal Capital Territory, warning that Abuja’s housing market is becoming increasingly unaffordable for ordinary residents.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the group said the sharp rise in accommodation costs driven by inflation, rapid urbanisation and population growth has placed an overwhelming burden on civil servants, artisans, and low- to middle-income earners.
“Rent for a self-contained apartment now averages about ₦1 million annually, while a three-bedroom flat goes for as high as ₦3.5 million,” HDAN noted. “These rates, coupled with multiple fees imposed by agents, have pushed many residents to relocate to satellite towns, worsening commuting times and lowering productivity.”
Festus Adebayo, Executive Director of HDAN, lamented that beyond rent, tenants face agency charges of up to 25 percent of annual rent in addition to caution and maintenance fees. “The absence of regulatory oversight has enabled arbitrary hikes and exploitative practices. Without intervention, Abuja risks sliding into a housing crisis marked by homelessness and sprawling informal settlements,” he said.
To address the situation, the organisation urged lawmakers to enact a Rent and Agency Control Bill, set up an FCT Housing Authority to monitor rent increases, and work with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to provide affordable estates for civil servants and artisans. It also appealed for measures to reduce the soaring cost of building materials, which has further inflated housing prices.
HDAN stressed that affordable housing is not just an economic necessity but a social justice issue requiring urgent government action.
The group, a pan-African non-profit body with over 5,000 housing professionals, advocates sustainable and affordable housing policies across the continent.
