CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
The current economic hardship in 2026 has triggered a serious war between landlords and tenants across Lagos State, as the Centre of Excellence now battles the highest inflation rate in Nigeria.
According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, Lagos State recorded the highest headline inflation rate at 23.68 percent in August 2026, significantly above the national average of 15.39 percent. Food inflation in Lagos State also accelerated to 30.9 percent in the same month, making it the most expensive state to live in Nigeria.
The rent crisis has worsened. Data from the NBS revealed that rent inflation rose from 14.79 percent in June to roughly 39 percent in July 2026. Investment banking firm, GTI Investment Group, estimated that rents surged by 80 to 120 percent between 2024 and 2026, while other reports put the increase at 50 to 200 percent in the last 24 months leading to early 2026.
The income-to-rent ratio in Lagos has climbed to approximately 70 percent, more than double the widely accepted 30 percent affordability threshold recommended by the United Nations. This means a Lagos worker now spends 70 percent of his income on house rent alone.
The high cost of building materials has worsened the situation. In January 2026, a 50kg bag of cement rose to N10,500, forcing landlords to increase rents. Findings showed that minimum rent for a self-contained apartment now costs over N800,000 annually in urban centres like Lagos, while standard two-bedroom flats average N5.2 million in Ikeja, N12.5 million on Lagos Island and Victoria Island, N8.5 million in Lekki Phase I, and N15 million in Ikoyi.
With the national minimum wage at N70,000, which was increased by 133 percent in July 2024, many workers in Lagos still face monthly basic costs of N150,000 to N250,000 excluding rent. For a family of four, food alone now consumes N100,000 to N180,000 monthly.
Tenants who spoke with our correspondent lamented that there is no money to pay rent. Many now owe six months to one year rent arrears.
A tenant in Ikotun Roundabout, Mr. Chinedu Okoro, said his rent was increased from N550,000 to N1.2 million, a 118 percent rise. He said, “There is no money to pay rent. What I earn cannot feed my family. My landlord is on my neck but I have no money.”
Another tenant in Egbeda, Mrs. Bose Adebayo, said she sells provisions but sales have dropped. “I have not paid rent for seven months. My landlord wants to throw my things out.”
On the other hand, landlords said they also need money for maintenance of houses, payment of tenement rates, Land Use Charge, electricity, water and upkeep of their own families.
A landlord in Idimu, Alhaji Musibau Lawal, said, “We built these houses with loans. We need money to repair roofs, plumbing, soakaway. We also have children in school. If tenants don’t pay, how do we survive?”
A landlady at Igando, Mrs. Comfort Nnaji, said house rent is her only source of income as a widow.
What is more worrisome is the method landlords now use to eject tenants. Many landlords do not want to go to court because they say the process is slow and expensive. They now resort to self help.
Investigations revealed that some landlords remove roofs, remove doors and windows, disconnect water and electricity, pour faeces at the entrance and lock gates to frustrate tenants.
Even more disturbing is the alleged use of Police to eject tenants. Our correspondent gathered that some landlords bring Police officers from nearby divisions to the house, without any court order, to intimidate, harass and throw out tenants’ belongings.
A tenant in Ayobo alleged that his landlord came with three policemen to eject him at night, despite the fact that he had a valid one year rent.
Legal practitioners have warned that both self help and use of Police are illegal under the Lagos State Tenancy Law, 2011.
Barrister Emeka Okafor explained that under the law, a landlord must issue proper quit notice, seven days notice of intention to recover possession, and obtain court order before ejecting a tenant. “The Police have no power in tenancy matters. Tenancy is a civil matter. Any landlord who uses Police or self help to eject a tenant is acting illegally and can be sued for damages and breach of fundamental human rights.”
He advised tenants facing illegal ejection to report to the Lagos State Citizens Mediation Centre at Ikeja, the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, LASRERA, or file a complaint against such Police officers at the Police Complaint Response Unit, CRU.
The Lagos State Police Command has repeatedly warned its officers to stay away from civil matters and landlord and tenant disputes.
Stakeholders have called on the Lagos State Government to intervene by building more low cost housing estates, enforcing rent control, and speeding up tenancy cases in court.
They also appealed to landlords to show understanding while urging tenants to communicate early with landlords and seek mediation instead of confrontation.
