Nigeria faces a chronic housing crisis, among other crises. This video from German public service broadcaster DW, shows the obstacles – financial and otherwise – that young Nigerians have to overcome to find affordable accommodation in a city like the Nigerian capital Abuja.
Chapter 2, Section 16(2)(d) of the Nigerian constitution states that: “The State shall direct its policy towards ensuring: that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens.”
Very few Nigerian governments at local, state or national level bother with addressing this constitutional right. Social housing is virtually non-existent. So individuals and families that can’t afford exorbitant rents have to survive in inadequate shelter of all sorts.
According to DW: “In cities like Abuja, young Nigerians are increasingly unable to afford decent housing, despite numerous government initiatives. Annual rents range from ₦400,000 ($262) to ₦25 million ($16,391), depending on location and apartment type. Experts say urgent government regulation is needed to address the crisis”.
