Human rights attorney Deji Adeyanju has formally requested that President Bola Tinubu announce a state of emergency within the housing sector to combat the severe financial strain caused by skyrocketing rents. In a letter dated July 27, 2026, Adeyanju argued that the current situation violates the constitutional mandate for the government to provide for the welfare and shelter of its citizens.
The lawyer highlighted that the rental markets in major cities like Abuja and Lagos have become predatory environments. Tenants are frequently subjected to excessive demands, including multi-year upfront payments and arbitrary charges for legal and agency fees that lack transparency. Adeyanju pointed out that these practices effectively extort the workforce, including civil servants and young professionals, pushing many toward economic instability.
Drawing on international standards, such as Ghana’s Rent Act, Adeyanju proposed a series of urgent interventions. These include establishing a presidential task force to draft comprehensive reforms, capping agency and legal fees at 7.5 percent, and limiting advance rent demands to one year. He also advocated for a digital reporting platform for tenants to hold exploitative landlords and agents accountable.
Ultimately, the lawyer stressed that housing should be viewed as a social necessity rather than a speculative asset. He urged the administration to prioritize the dignity of its citizens by implementing these policies to ensure that urban development does not result in mass evictions or social harm.
