National Issues
Pains, torment of being a tenant in Abuja
IN advanced countries, housing is a form of social product, it is governmental provision for the citizenry, although not free, but the government has a technique of making it comfortable for her citizens. Here in Nigeria, the reverse is the case.
A landlord could wake up one day and decide he wants the tenant out of his house; perhaps out of spite, perhaps because he needs the property urgently, perhaps because he has a better offer. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter.
The landlord is the alpha and omega and the tenant at his mercy. Failure of the tenant to comply would often result in a forced eviction. The tenant is forcibly removed from the premises with his or her things thrown out and sometimes, the tenant’s property is removed from the premises in his or her absence.
Some landlords and quack agents have almost perfected this act of illegality. The trend has however been abated with the realization that such actions is frowned at by the law.
Landlords and their palava
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25)
Mr Olanrewaju recounted his torment in the hands of his Hausa landlord. Mr Olanrewaju had earlier paid for two years house rent, after a year of occupancy, the landlord demanded that he pay more, reason, because other landlords have increase house rent. Olarenwaju declined such demand and referred the landlord to his tenancy agreement which they both duly signed, but surprisingly, the landlord refused to acknowledge his agreement. The consequences were that Mr Olarenwaju was given a seven-day quick notice to evacuate the room.
“He gave me the notice on a Monday morning, then on Thursday, he started knocking my door, saying someone has paid for my room that I should move out in three days’ time. I was busy looking for a room, but I couldn’t get one, in fact, I was not financially capable to do much running’s or guarantee a good house since the landlord said he won’t return my money until I move out. It was on
Monday morning, I was preparing to go to work when I noticed a carpenter was working on my roof, I thought it was a usual change of leaking roof but again, I remembered that my room was not leaking after all, as I dashed out to find out what was going on, the landlord said he is removing my roof so that I will know that I have overstayed my welcome in the house. I had no choice than to move my things to a nearby uncompleted building”
A resident who spoke with the reporter decried the manner at which landlords wickedly increase house rents without doing any major renovation. Paul Okiti, a business man, lamented on how his landlord, without notice, increased the rent of his self-contain apartment from 130 thousand to 155 thousand naira.
“Last year, I moved into a self-contain apartment with a tenancy fee of one hundred and thirty thousand naira. It was when I wanted to renew my rent last month that my landlord told me the rent has increased to one hundred and fifty-five thousand naira.
“I had no choice than to pay him the total amount because I cannot stand the stress of looking for another apartment”.
“Most of these landlords you see are without conscience”, he concluded.
An Abuja based civil engineer lamented on the high cost of renting an apartment in Abuja.
“Abuja is only meant for the rich. Very few residents live in a decent apartment. You find majority of resident living in satellite towns, and mostly in villages. If you are not a politician, then you can’t have a decent apartment in Abuja”
In a similar reaction, A civil servant at the ministry of education decried the cost of accommodation in Abuja. She was quick to add that landlords now see increase in house rents as serious business.
“Oga, where I go see money rent house for Asokoro or Wuse 11?
“Only the rich ones can afford apartment in those areas. Even as I dey live for Karu, I dey sweat before I pay house rent.
“Rent is on the high side in Abuja, and the landlords are not being fair. They now increase rent on daily basis without pitying their tenants”, she added.
It would be recalled that the federal government enacted laws to regulate landlords and tenant’s relationships. These laws are Recovery of Premises Act. Cap 544 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990; Rent Control & Recovery of Residential Premises Law, Vol. 7, Laws of Lagos State, 2003; Lagos Tenancy Law, 2011.
Most of the landlords today, who have hitherto been a tenant, do not care about the laws or rules guiding landlord and tenants, to them, the house belongs to them and they are free to make their decision anytime.
The over-all case of landlords has made Nigeria housing situation look like a lawless one as the Landlords don’t care about what the law says in concerning their respective actions and inaction. It is an obvious fact that the landlords see Nigeria economic situations favourable for their welfare.
FCT residents groan in pains over hike in house rents.
As the cost of housing continues to rise in Abuja, so also the presence of exotic houses, both completed and uncompleted all over the city. Many of these houses have one thing in common: they’re empty Many of the home occupiers in Abuja today are mostly tenants who pay for accommodation yearly.
However, apartments in highbrow areas like Asokoro, Wuse, Garki, Maitama, and Gwarinpa are solely reserved for wealthy Nigerians.
Consequently, many of the houses in these areas remained unoccupied. Findings evinced that there are a lot of estates built by some super-rich Nigerians who do not bother even if the buildings remain unoccupied for decades. But the satellite towns like Kubwa, Nyanya, Karu, Nyanya, and Lugbe among others are mainly occupied by the low and middle-class worker and are characterized by yearly increase of rent.
Findings reveals that a three bedroom flat in Asokoro, Gwarinpa, Wuse, and Maitama could cost up to 4-6 million naira per annum, while a one or two bedroom flat in the same vicinity could go for a much as 2-4 million Naira per annum. On the other hand, a one bedroom flat in satellite towns like Lugbe, Kubwa, Karu amongst others cost up to 300-350 thousand naira per annum while a self-contain apartment goes for 150-200 thousand naira per annum.
According to a resident, as long as the houses or estates are beyond the reach of the common man, they will continue to be unoccupied. He further said as a result of the development, lots of people move to the suburbs like Suleja, Gwagwalada, Nyanya, Mararaba, Dutse among others because they cannot afford houses in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse and others.
“Because of this development, they have been mounting pressure on the government to introduce property tax in FCT so that the owners of such houses will decide whether to stay in or sell them or give them to those who want to rent at affordable price. The tax, apart from forcing homeowners to rent out houses, will help government earn revenue,” he said.
Recall that during the 7th National Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi proposed a bill seeking to regulate the relationship between landlords and tenants as well as make provision for rent control in the FCT, but it was not passed before the close of the assembly.
Every day with the increase in population, there is a concurrent need for houses to accommodate this rising population. As a result, there has always been the need for individuals, corporations and governments to build and lease or rent houses to fill this void. These houses could either be for residential or commercial purposes.
Due to the Nigerian undue attachment to land and landed property, so much attention and superiority is added to the status of “Landlordship”. This makes up for the ill treatment the so-called landlords do met out to their often-poor tenants.
By Gbenga Odunsi, Abuja
The Nigerian government spent a staggering $3.58 billion on servicing foreign debt within the first nine months of 2024, marking a significant 39.77% increase compared to the $2.56 billion expended over the same period in 2023.
This data, drawn from a recent report on international payment statistics by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), reflects a concerning rise in the country’s foreign debt obligations amid depreciating currency values.
According to the report, the most substantial monthly debt servicing payment occurred in May 2024, totaling $854.37 million. This is a substantial 286.52% increase from May 2023’s $221.05 million.
Meanwhile, the highest monthly payment for 2023 was $641.7 million in July, underscoring the trend of Nigeria’s escalating debt costs.
Detailed analysis of monthly payments further illuminates the trend.
In January 2024, debt servicing costs surged by 398.89%, reaching $560.52 million, a significant rise from $112.35 million in January 2023. However, February saw a modest reduction of 1.84%, with costs decreasing from $288.54 million in 2023 to $283.22 million in 2024. March also recorded a decline of 31.04%, down to $276.17 million from $400.47 million the previous year.
Additional fluctuations in debt payments continued throughout the year, with June witnessing a slight decrease of 6.51% to $50.82 million from $54.36 million in 2023. July 2024 payments dropped by 15.48%, while August showed a 9.69% decline compared to 2023. September, however, reversed the trend with a 17.49% increase, highlighting persistent pressure on foreign debt obligations.
With the rise in exchange rates exacerbating these financial strains, Nigeria’s foreign debt servicing costs are projected to remain elevated.
The central bank’s data highlights how these obligations are stretching national resources as the naira’s devaluation continues to impact debt repayment in dollar terms.
Rising State Debt Levels Add Pressure
The federal government’s debt challenges are mirrored by state governments, whose collective debt rose to N11.47 trillion by June 30, 2024.
Despite allocations from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and internally generated revenue (IGR), states remain heavily reliant on federal transfers to meet budgetary demands.
According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), the debt burden for Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) rose by 14.57% from N10.01 trillion in December 2023.
In naira terms, debt rose by 73.46%, from N4.15 trillion to N7.2 trillion, primarily due to the naira’s depreciation from N899.39 to N1,470.19 per dollar within six months. External debt for states and the FCT also increased from $4.61 billion to $4.89 billion during this period.
Further data from BudgIT’s 2024 State of States report illustrates how reliant states are on federal support. The report revealed that 32 states depended on FAAC allocations for at least 55% of their revenue in 2023.
In fact, 14 states relied on FAAC for 70% or more of their revenue. This heavy dependence on federal transfers underscores the vulnerability of states to fluctuations in federal revenue, particularly those tied to oil prices.
The economic challenges facing both the federal and state governments are stark. The combination of mounting foreign debt, fluctuating exchange rates, and high reliance on federally distributed revenue suggests a need for fiscal reforms to bolster revenue generation and reduce vulnerability to external shocks.
With foreign debt obligations continuing to grow, the report emphasizes the urgency for Nigeria to address its debt sustainability to foster long-term economic stability.
Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has called for a prompt investigation into the increasing occurrences of building collapses in major cities across Nigeria.
In a motion presented to the House on Wednesday, Oseni expressed deep concern over the alarming frequency of building collapses, emphasising the threat they pose to the lives and property of Nigerians.
The APC lawmaker, through a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, cited the recent collapse of a two-storey school building at Saint Academy in Busa Buji, Jos, Plateau State, on July 12, 2024. The tragic incident, which trapped 154 people and claimed 22 lives, is the latest in a series of similar disasters, raising serious concerns nationwide.
Oseni also referenced a report from The Punch newspaper, which revealed that Nigeria had recorded 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024.
“This figure is alarming and unacceptable,” he stated, stressing the urgency of preventing further occurrences.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Oseni reminded the House that the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other relevant professional bodies are responsible for ensuring compliance with building standards and practices.
“Despite these regulatory frameworks, the recurring collapses suggest that enforcement is lacking. The loss of lives, properties, and resources is staggering, and this disturbing trend must be addressed immediately,” he remarked.
He proposed the formation of an Adhoc Committee to investigate the underlying causes of these collapses and recommend both immediate and long-term solutions.
Also, he urged the House Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure swift implementation of any recommendations.
The House agreed to deliberate on the motion and is expected to present its findings and proposed actions within eight weeks.
The Vice-chairman of the Oyo Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of religious leaders in material pursuits, accusing them of abandoning their spiritual duties in favour of wealth and influence.
Oba Alao, who is also the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, made this statement during a visit from the leadership of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement “Ayo Ni O,” led by Baba Aladura Prophet Emmanuel Abiodun Alogbo, at his palace in Surulere Local Government on Thursday.
The monarch accused some religious leaders of sharing part of the blame for the moral and political crises that have engulfed the nation. According to him, spiritual leaders, once seen as the moral compass of society, have become compromised by corruption, aligning themselves with the very forces they should condemn.
Oba Alao was unapologetic in his criticism, stating, “Ninety-five percent of Nigerian leaders, both political and religious, are spiritually compromised.”
He argued that this moral decay among clerics has made it impossible for them to hold political leaders accountable or speak the truth to those in power, as their integrity has been eroded by their pursuit of material wealth.
“Carnality has taken over spirituality. Our religious leaders can no longer speak the truth to those in authority because their minds have been corrupted. Most of the so-called General Overseers (G.O.) are corrupt and perverted,” Oba Alao added.
He stressed that this shift towards wealth accumulation at the expense of spiritual values has greatly contributed to the country’s stagnation in development and social justice.
Olugbon urged both religious leaders and traditional rulers to reflect on their actions, reminding them that they would be held accountable for their stewardship, both in this world and the next.
“The prayers of sinners are an abomination before God, hence the need for our leaders to rethink,” he warned.
The monarch concluded by reiterating the transient nature of power and the importance of staying true to sacred duties, regardless of the temptation to indulge in worldly gains. “I am a traditional ruler. I don’t belong, and will never belong, to any occultic groups,” he emphasised, drawing a clear line between his position and the corrupt practices of some leaders.
In response to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement’s request for collaboration on community development projects, Oba Alao assured them of his support.
“Your requests are aimed at the development of the Orile Igbon community. I am assuring you that necessary assistance will be provided in this regard.”
Earlier, Prophet Alogbo requested the monarch’s collaboration on a range of community development projects. These initiatives include the establishment of a women and youth empowerment center, clean drinking water initiatives, a bakery, animal production facilities, and farm produce processing.
Other proposals included a diagnostic and medical center, a full-size recreational sports facility, and a home care facility for the elderly.
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