By Alabi Oluwasore
Across Nigeria, more people are abandoning traditional apartments and turning to shop spaces as makeshift homes, as landlords continue to raise rents far beyond the reach of low-income earners. This growing trend has left artisans, traders, and even families squeezed into small, uncomfortable spaces simply to avoid homelessness.
The odds these tenants face are steep. From rent hikes of over 100 percent to yearly increments that push them out of modest apartments, the housing crisis has turned survival into a daily negotiation. For people like Jude Boma, a mechanic, the cost of keeping a one-room-and-parlour apartment suddenly shot up by more than 300 percent. With no means to meet the demand, he was forced to send his family back to the village while he moved into a rented shop space with friends. His story reflects the emotional and financial strain many Nigerians now endure.
Similarly, Miss Osasowie George, a pure water seller, once managed to pay N30,000 yearly rent. But when the cost jumped to N80,000, she and her friends had no choice but to settle for a shop attached to a building, paying N20,000 yearly. For her, it is not just about losing comfort but about survival in a society where landlords take advantage of economic hardship.
Caretakers and agents admit that landlords now use vacant shop spaces in front of their homes as living quarters, renting them out to artisans, bus conductors, and casual workers who cannot afford apartments. Often, two or three people contribute to pay rent for one small space, enduring poor ventilation and no privacy.
The odds are even more glaring when one considers the backdrop: inflation, shrinking wages, and policies that have reduced the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians. What was once considered the bare minimum, having a roof overhead, has now become a luxury.
Many families are scattered, with parents living in towns while wives and children return to villages.
This crisis also raises questions about government’s role in regulating housing and protecting vulnerable citizens. While states claim to be working on housing plans, the immediate reality is that thousands risk eviction each year without viable alternatives. The lack of rent control laws leaves tenants at the mercy of landlords.
The Nigerian dream of owning or even maintaining a modest home is fading fast. Until bold policies address affordable housing, the sight of families living in shops will remain a painful symbol of a nation where survival has replaced dignity.
