Lagos Rent Crisis: Group Demands Urgent Action as 2-Bedroom Rent Hits ₦2.5m
By Emmanuel Daniji
The Citizens Action Network (CAN) has called on the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene in the rising cost of accommodation across the state, warning that soaring rents are putting increasing pressure on workers and low-income households.
The group, in a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, 2026, by its Convener, Ade-Adewunmi Adeoye, described the current rental situation as exploitative and urged the government to introduce measures that would make decent housing more affordable for residents.
CAN claimed that tenants in some parts of Lagos now pay as much as ₦2.5 million annually for a two-bedroom apartment, while a self-contained apartment can cost up to ₦700,000 per year.
“This is not just high; it is criminal,” the group said, questioning how workers earning the current ₦70,000 minimum wage could cope with such rents.
The organisation noted that a worker earning ₦70,000 monthly makes ₦840,000 in a year, meaning such a worker could potentially spend almost an entire year’s income on rent alone.
“Let us do the math: A worker earning the N70,000 minimum wage per month with a family of six earns N840,000 in a year. That means his entire annual salary cannot even cover rent for one two-bedroom flat, not to talk of feeding, school fees, transport and healthcare,” CAN said.
The group also raised concerns about labourers, artisans, petty traders and other low-income earners who depend on Lagos for their livelihoods but may increasingly struggle to afford accommodation.
Group Wants Rent Control
CAN warned that continued increases in rental costs could force more families into informal settlements, overcrowded housing and, in extreme cases, homelessness.
To address the situation, the organisation called for the introduction of a rent control law to regulate annual rent increases and tackle what it described as illegal charges imposed on tenants by some landlords and agents.
It also proposed the establishment of a Rent Monitoring Taskforce that would monitor rental activities across the state and take action against landlords and agents accused of exploiting or harassing tenants.
Beyond regulation, CAN urged the Lagos Government to expand affordable housing programmes specifically targeted at low-income workers and other residents struggling with rising rents.
The group maintained that decent accommodation should not become a privilege reserved only for people who can afford increasingly expensive rents.
“Housing is a right, not a luxury. We need Homes For All,” CAN said.
The organisation further urged the government to act before the situation worsens, warning that continued inaction could deepen Lagos’ housing crisis and place an even heavier burden on vulnerable residents.
