When Rent Swallows Income: IUT Raises Alarm Over Housing Costs in Port Harcourt

The International Union of Tenants (IUT), a global umbrella organization for tenants, has called on the Rivers State Government to take practical measures to address the rising cost of rent in the state, particularly in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

The union urged the government to immediately implement measures to stop the unlawful conversion of residential buildings, address excessive rent increases, and restore affordable housing through effective regulation.
The IUT’s intervention followed a letter from the National Union of Tenants of Nigeria (NUTN), Rivers State chapter, which appealed to the Rivers State Government to intervene in the worsening rent situation in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor metropolis.
In the letter signed by its Secretary, Ceaser W. Enwefah, the NUTN Rivers chapter lamented the sharp increase in rents across Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas and its adverse impact on the social and economic lives of residents. He noted that the city’s population is largely made up of civil servants, company employees, self-employed individuals, and retirees, adding that the situation has escalated into a full-scale crisis.
Enwefah explained that the N70,000 minimum wage earned by many workers can no longer meet their housing needs. According to him, about 80 percent of the urban population, estimated at nearly two million residents, especially civil servants, spend more than 150 percent of their income on rent, leaving little or nothing to cater for their families.
In a statement, IUT President Marie Linder described the situation as a systemic failure.
“The situation described by our Nigerian member is deeply alarming. When tenants are forced to spend more than their entire income on rent, housing systems are no longer functioning. Housing must be treated as a human right, not a commodity,” she said.
Linder further stated: “Authorities must act now to prevent unjustified rent increases, protect affordable housing, and ensure that urban development serves people, not profit.”
Highlighting its policy priorities, the IUT stressed that housing is a fundamental human right that governments must protect and enforce.
According to the statement, “Governments must ensure affordability, security of tenure, and protection against exploitation. Public authorities have a responsibility to prevent displacement and safeguard access to adequate housing for all.”
The union therefore endorsed the NUTN’s call for urgent government intervention, including immediate measures to stop the unlawful conversion of residential buildings into commercial premises, tackle excessive rent increases, and restore affordable housing through effective regulation.
The International Union of Tenants also urged authorities in Rivers State and at the federal level to engage constructively with the National Union of Tenants of Nigeria and take swift, practical steps to address the housing crisis.
“At a time when housing affordability challenges are intensifying globally, the situation in Nigeria underscores the urgent need for policy frameworks that put people before profit and ensure that no tenant is left behind.
“IUT stands in solidarity with its Nigerian members and reaffirms its commitment to advancing tenant rights and housing justice worldwide,” the statement added.