Rent Crisis: FCT Youths Demand Laws To Protect Tenants

Indigenous youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO) have raised the alarm over rising house rent in the nation’s capital.
They described it as one of the biggest challenges confronting Abuja residents.

The executive director of AOIYEO and supreme leader of FCT Youths, Commandant Isaac David, at a press briefing yesterday, said the continuous increase in rents, coupled with inadequate employment opportunities and low incomes, had placed a heavy burden on families, workers and youths struggling to secure decent accommodation in Abuja.

David called for urgent measures to address the situation, particularly through legislation capable of protecting tenants from arbitrary rent increases and other practices that make accommodation increasingly unaffordable.
According to him, residents of the FCT are facing a situation where their incomes are not rising at the same pace as the cost of accommodation.

“House rent in the FCT is one of the biggest challenges our people are facing today.

Every day, rent is increasing. Yet jobs are not there, and salaries are not enough for people to afford decent rent and live in a comfortable environment as we wish,” he said.

David said the housing crisis was no longer an issue affecting only low-income earners, stressing that workers and young people with regular incomes were also finding it increasingly difficult to meet rent obligations.

“This is a serious burden on families, workers and youths. People work, earn salaries and still struggle to provide a roof over their heads because what they earn is not enough to cope with the rising cost of rent,” he stated.

The AOIYEO executive director attributed part of the problem to what he described as the lack of a dedicated legislative arm for the FCT, arguing that residents needed an institution that would directly address laws affecting their welfare.

“Part of this problem is the lack of a State House of Assembly in the FCT. If we had our own State Assembly, it would be their responsibility to make laws that protect tenants, regulate rent and ensure the comfort and welfare of citizens,” David said.

He argued that the absence of such a legislative institution had left several issues affecting ordinary residents without a direct local legislative mechanism.

“The people of the FCT need a stronger voice on matters that affect their daily lives. Housing is not a luxury. It is a basic need, and the people must have laws that protect them from situations that make decent accommodation beyond their reach,” he said.

David said rent regulation should form part of broader efforts to make life more affordable for residents of the nation’s capital, particularly young people who migrate to Abuja in search of employment and better opportunities.

“You cannot talk about the welfare of youths without talking about accommodation. A young person who gets a job in Abuja must still pay rent, commute to work, and take care of other basic needs. When rent keeps increasing, the pressure becomes unbearable,” he said.

He also called for greater attention to the development of affordable housing schemes across the FCT, saying government policies should take into account the economic realities of ordinary residents.

“We need housing that ordinary workers, young people and families can afford. Abuja is the capital of Nigeria, but it must also be a city where ordinary Nigerians can live with dignity,” he added.

The youth leader maintained that the agitation for greater legislative representation in the FCT would continue, saying residents must remain persistent in demanding structures that would give them greater participation in decisions affecting their lives.

“We will continue to push. One day, victory will be ours. We will not stop demanding what belongs to our people,” David declared.

He further urged FCT residents, particularly youths, to remain united in the campaign for improved welfare, greater representation and policies that directly address the challenges confronting them.

The demand comes amid growing concerns over the affordability of accommodation in Abuja, where residents in many districts and satellite settlements continue to contend with high rental costs, transportation expenses and other rising living costs.

For many workers and young residents, the cost of accommodation has become a major consideration in deciding where to live, with some forced to move farther away from the city centre in search of cheaper housing.

David said the situation required sustained attention from policymakers, stressing that the development of Abuja should be measured not only by roads, buildings, and other infrastructure, but also by the ability of ordinary residents to afford basic necessities.

“Development is not only about constructing roads and buildings. Development must also mean that the people living here can afford to survive. If people cannot afford a house, then we must ask ourselves who the city is being developed for,” he said.

He therefore urged relevant authorities and policymakers to consider measures to expand affordable housing, protect tenants, and address the wider economic pressures contributing to the housing crisis in the FCT.