“Tinubu Must End Landlords’ ‘Reign of Extortion,’ Deji Adeyanju Declares in Explosive Open Letter”
By Passman Akpos
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for the declaration of a state of emergency on Nigeria’s worsening housing and rental crisis.
In the strongly worded letter, Adeyanju argued that millions of Nigerians, particularly in Abuja, Lagos and other major urban centres, are being pushed into poverty by soaring rents, excessive agency fees and what he described as exploitative practices by landlords and estate agents.
According to him, access to decent housing is a constitutional obligation of government and should not be treated as a luxury reserved for the wealthy. He warned that the country’s housing market has become “predatory,” leaving civil servants, artisans, young professionals, remote workers and low-income families struggling to secure accommodation.
The activist cited Sections 14 and 16 of the 1999 Constitution, stressing that the security and welfare of Nigerians remain the primary purpose of government. He also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which recognises adequate housing as a fundamental human right.
Adeyanju lamented that tenants in major cities are often compelled to pay two or three years’ rent in advance alongside multiple charges, including agency fees, legal fees, service charges and caution fees. He alleged that many of these charges lack transparency and have become tools for exploiting desperate house seekers.
He further argued that urban renewal projects should not result in the displacement of ordinary Nigerians. Instead, he said any redevelopment initiative must include affordable housing for low- and middle-income earners to prevent what he described as economic homelessness caused by gentrification.
Drawing comparisons with Ghana’s housing regulations, Adeyanju urged the Federal Government to adopt stronger tenancy protections, including statutory limits on advance rent and tighter regulation of rental-related charges.
Among his key demands, the activist called on President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the housing sector, establish a Presidential Task Force on Rental Reform, and mandate the drafting of a comprehensive National Housing and Tenancy Policy within 90 days.
He also proposed a series of nationwide reforms, including capping combined agency and legal fees at 7.5% of annual rent, limiting service charges to 5% of annual rent, restricting advance rent to a maximum of one year while transitioning towards monthly rent payments, and banning non-refundable caution fees.
Adeyanju further recommended the creation of a digital tenant reporting platform to enable Nigerians to report landlords and estate agents who violate tenancy regulations, alongside strict penalties for offenders.
In addition, he urged the Federal Government to significantly expand low-cost public housing through Public-Private Partnerships and targeted investments aimed at making homes affordable for ordinary Nigerians.
Concluding the letter, Adeyanju appealed to President Tinubu to take decisive action, insisting that history would judge the administration not only by economic indicators but also by how it protected the dignity and welfare of Nigerians during a period of economic hardship.
He maintained that guaranteeing access to affordable housing is not an act of charity but a constitutional responsibility, urging the President to provide immediate relief to millions of Nigerians battling the country’s escalating rental crisis.
