By\u00a0Promise Eze<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ABUJA (IPS) <\/strong>– After graduating in 2019, Jeremiah Achimugu left Sokoto State in northwestern Nigeria for Abuja, the nation\u2019s capital, in search of better opportunities. But life in the city brought unexpected challenges, especially the high cost of housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At first, Achimugu stayed with his uncle and worked as a marketer, earning 120,000 naira (USD 73) a month. However, his salary barely covered his basic needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe cost of living in Nigeria\u2019s rapidly developing capital soon ate deep into my salary,\u201d he said. \u201cBy the end of the month, I was always broke. Transportation, food, and other expenses were just too much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When he began searching for a place of his own, he was shocked by the prices. Even a small one-room apartment in a remote area costs about 500,000 naira (USD 307) a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere was no way I could afford that kind of rent even though the apartment was nothing to write home about,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Few months later, Achimugu resigned from his job and returned to Sokoto. His dream of building a life in the city was cut short by the soaring cost of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe cost of living and rent in Nigerian cities is too high for young people,\u201d he said. \u201cBut these are the places where the opportunities are. Some landlords are taking advantage of young people coming into the cities by raising the rent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Continental Rental Crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Achimugu\u2019s experience reflects a larger problem<\/a> faced by young people across Nigeria. About 63 percent<\/a> of the country\u2019s population is under the age of 24, and cities are growing rapidly. The United Nations has warned<\/a> that Nigeria\u2019s urban population is increasing almost twice as fast as the national average. However, housing hasn\u2019t kept up with this growth. As a result, the few available homes are now overpriced<\/a>. The World Bank estimates<\/a> the country has a housing shortage of over 17 million homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, rent prices can range<\/a> from around 400,000 naira (USD 246) to as much as 25 million naira (USD 16,000) per annum, depending on the location and kind of apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a monthly minimum wage of 70,000 naira (USD 43), which is often unpaid or delayed, and high unemployment<\/a>, many young people cannot afford decent housing. This makes it harder for them to settle down, build strong social connections, or feel financially secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nigeria is not alone. Across Africa, young people are being priced out of the rental market<\/a>. Rapid urbanization, population growth, and economic hardship have made affordable housing a growing concern. In interviews with young people in Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria, IPS confirmed that the same challenges exist across the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Formal housing remains beyond the reach of most Africans, with only the top 5 to 10 percent of the population<\/a> able to afford it. The majority are left to live in informal settlements, many of which lack essential services such as clean water, electricity, and proper sanitation. Experts have warned that without increased investment in affordable housing, a growing number of young people will struggle to find a place to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kwantami Kwame in Kumasi, Ghana, blames capitalism and the greed of real estate owners<\/a> for the high cost of rent. He told IPS that the rush for quick profits in the cities is affecting the welfare of young people, most of whom are low-income earners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA few weeks ago, I was looking for a one-bedroom apartment in Accra, the capital of Ghana, and I was asked to pay an upfront two-year rent fee of 38,275 Ghanaian Cedis (USD 2,500). The apartment wasn\u2019t even up to standard. The fee didn\u2019t cover water, electricity, or waste bills. It\u2019s really unfair,\u201d said Kwame, who noted that in a country where the monthly minimum wage<\/a> is just 539.19 Ghanaian cedis (USD 45), there should be provisions for young people to access affordable housing in cities where opportunities exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kwame believes governments should regulate rents and check the excesses of landlords. But Olaitan Olaoye, a Lagos-based real estate expert, sees it differently. He points to limited land availability as a major factor driving up rent and argues that price controls won\u2019t solve the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGovernments in Africa shouldn\u2019t be setting rent prices when they\u2019re not doing enough to tackle inflation, which keeps pushing up the cost of building materials,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor instance, in a country like Nigeria, the removal of the fuel subsidy caused prices to skyrocket. This had a ripple effect on everything else, including construction. It led to an increase in the cost of building materials. The government then has no moral right to instruct landlords to reduce their rent,\u201d Olaoye argued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While he does not excuse the greed of some landlords and estate developers, Olaoye worries that if young people already struggle to rent homes, the dream of owning one may become increasingly unrealistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the past, it was easier for people to build homes. Prices of building materials were affordable and life was more stable. Back then, when people finished school and got a job, they could start saving right away. They could afford to buy a car, build a house, and live comfortably. But things have changed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inadequate Social Housing Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Olaoye\u2019s concerns are echoed by Phoebe Atieno Ochieng in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. After securing a teaching job in the capital, she left her family home in the countryside of Busia. However, with a monthly salary of only 18,000 Kenya Shillings (USD 140), renting a place in the city was out of her reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had no choice but to live in a small space provided by the school management within the school premises,\u201d she told IPS. \u201cThe houses here are not affordable<\/a>. A basic one-bedroom apartment costs 120,000 Kenyan shillings per month. I can\u2019t balance my income because I still have to pay taxes, buy food, and take care of other daily needs. Unless I get a better-paying job, I can\u2019t manage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ochieng criticizes the Kenyan government for its failure to provide adequate social housing and ensure access to affordable mortgages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the Kenyan government has launched a social housing scheme like the Affordable Housing Programme<\/a> to help low- and middle-income earners secure decent homes, the initiative has faced growing criticism. Many argue that the houses being built are still unaffordable<\/a>, and there are widespread concerns about the potential mismanagement of the scheme. Also, the introduction of a mandatory housing tax has sparked outrage<\/a>, with many questioning why they are being compelled to fund homes they may never qualify for or benefit from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, the Nigerian government has made several attempts<\/a> to address the housing crisis through various national housing programs designed to provide affordable homes in cities. However, these programs have often failed due to poor implementation, inadequate funding, and corruption. Many housing projects have been abandoned, leaving the promise of affordable housing unfulfilled for the majority of Nigerians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Africa\u2019s housing crisis<\/a> is worsening due to rapid urbanization, economic challenges, and the legacy of apartheid<\/a>. Cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban are seeing an increasing number of people move from rural areas in search of better job opportunities, putting pressure on housing infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During apartheid, many Black South Africans were confined to overcrowded townships on the outskirts of cities, areas that still lack proper infrastructure and services. As young people flock to cities for better prospects, they face the challenge of unaffordable rent, which, according to Ntando Mji, a receptionist in Cape Town, is limiting their potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the government has attempted to provide subsidized housing for those with a limited income, the scale of the problem is overwhelming<\/a>, and millions are still waiting for homes. \u201cIn Cape Town, getting a house is so difficult. The agents require a three-month rent deposit, and they scrutinize your income, but even getting approved for a space is really hard,\u201d Mji lamented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause it is mainly commercial entities that build houses, they are so expensive. This is why the South African government should intervene by providing accommodation at lower prices and engaging the private sector in building lower-cost housing in safer areas,\u201d said Bhufura Majola, who told IPS that he waited a year before he could even get a small apartment in a student area far from where he works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He added, \u201cThe high cost of rental prices in South Africa is a big deterrent to young professionals in particular because it takes away their choices of where to stay, especially near places where employment is guaranteed. This has forced many to abandon their dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peace Abiola, who lives in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria, spent all her savings\u2014600,000 naira (USD 369)\u2014on an apartment last year. She works as a freelance content creator for brands, earning an irregular income. Now, with her rent due, she is considering returning to her village because she can no longer afford to keep up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think one solution to this problem is the proper implementation of laws to control the irregular hike in rental prices,\u201d she said, echoing the frustration of many Nigerians who have started protesting<\/a> and calling on the government to act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n