Soaring Rents in Enugu: Residents Seek Urgent Government Action on Housing Costs, Agent Fees

Introduction

Soaring rents in Enugu have become a growing concern for residents struggling under Nigeria’s biting economic hardship. Once known for its peaceful living conditions, Coal City is now ranked among the most expensive cities to rent accommodation in the South-East — ahead of Onitsha, Aba, Owerri, and Abakaliki, among others.

The situation worsened after the Enugu State Geographic Information System Services (ENGIS) launched its land verification and recertification exercise, prompting landlords in affected areas to raise rents by as much as 500%. Their justification? To offset the costs of obtaining Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and other land title documents.

But now, following the Enugu State Government’s recent 50% slash in C of O and title-document fees, tenants say there is no reason rents should remain high. Sadly, despite the relief, no meaningful reduction in rent has been observed — leaving tenants burdened and frustrated.

As earlier explained in our previous publications on Enugu’s New Land Policy and ENGIS Land Verification 2025, the state’s landed properties reform is meant to promote transparency, not deepen financial hardship for citizens. But as it stands now, landlords and agents are the ones deepening hardship for their fellow citizens.

Government’s 50% Slash on Land Title Fees: A Step in the Right Direction

In a commendable move, the administration of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah announced a 45-day, 50% discount window for all property owners applying for C of O and other land title documents at Enugu State Geographic Information System Services (ENGIS) office.

According to the public service announcement signed by Chinwetalu Nwatu, Managing Director of ENGIS, the discount took effect from October 15, 2025, as part of efforts to:

• Encourage proper land documentation and regularization.

• Promote transparency in land administration.

• Reduce revenue leakages in the state.

This initiative reflects the government’s genuine commitment to reforming land management and creating a more accessible system for both developers and homeowners.

However, the impact has not trickled down to tenants — the very people whose welfare such reforms are meant to protect.

Soaring Rents in Enugu Despite the 50% Fee Reduction

Despite the slash, soaring rents in Enugu continue to dominate discussions in commuter buses, markets, and on the streets, even neighbourhood gatherings. Property owners in locations like Ugwuaji, Meniru, Ologo, Zion Layout, One-Day, and Akwuke, among others, have maintained exorbitant rent rates — many still charging five times the pre-verification amounts.

According to web-based housing listings on Jiji and PropertyPro, a standard 2-bedroom flat now goes for anything between ₦800,000 and ₦2.5 million annually, depending on the area. Agents’ fees and caution deposits have also skyrocketed, making the dream of renting a home in Enugu nearly impossible for average-income earners.

Tenants complain that while the government acted in good faith to cut fees, landlords have refused to reciprocate the same kind gesture, using the verification exercise as a permanent excuse to sustain inflated housing costs.

Soaring Rents in Enugu: Why the Disconnection Persists

The persistence of soaring rents in Enugu can be traced to three main challenges:

1. Absence of Rent Regulation: There’s currently no official body ensuring landlords pass on cost savings from reduced C of O fees to tenants.

2. Delayed Policy Impact: Many landlords had already hiked rents even before the 50% slash took effect, leveraging their excuses on the economic hardship in the country.

3. Housing Supply Gap: With limited affordable housing units and high demand for apartments caused by mass exodus and influx of people into the state, landlords hold a near-monopoly on pricing to make more money for themselves.

Unless structural housing reforms are implemented, the government’s financial relief policies will continue to benefit only property owners — not the tenants they were meant to protect.

Residents Demand Urgent Government Intervention on Soaring Rents

Residents, housing-rights advocates, and civic groups are urging the Enugu State Government to step in with strong regulatory measures such as:

• Establishing a Rent Control and Monitoring Task Force to check-mate landlords and agents’ exploitative practices.

• Mandating landlords who benefited from this 50% fee reduction to review rent prices proportionally downward.

• Expanding the state’s affordable housing programs to absorb low – and middle-income earners.

• Introducing tenant protection frameworks against arbitrary evictions and overpricing by agents and landlords.

These calls mirror recent advocacy reports and proposals covered in SoutheastReporters, where both lawmakers and citizen groups pushed for an urgent review of Enugu’s landlord–tenant laws to protect vulnerable renters.

These actions, if implemented, would align with Governor Mbah’s broader vision of a people-centered administration committed to social welfare and economic equity.

The Human Impact of Soaring Rents

Behind the numbers lie heartbreaking realities. Families now move to the outskirts of the city or rural areas due to unaffordable rent. Others share overcrowded apartments, compromising their comfort and dignity.

The ripple effect is severe — reduced productivity, higher commuting costs, apartment facility destructions, and a widening inequality gap between property owners and struggling wage earners. The situation underscores why soaring rents in Enugu must be addressed not as a housing market issue alone but as a social crisis requiring immediate policy response.

Soaring Rents In Enugu: The Way Forward

To curb soaring rents in Enugu, the government can consider:

• Enforcing accountability from landlords benefiting from the title-fee discounts.

• Accelerating urban housing projects in partnership with the private sectors.

• Reviewing tax incentives to promote affordable housing development.

• Strengthening rent dispute resolution systems within the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, as well as setting up a legal institution exclusively on landlords-tenant matters.

If these steps are taken, Enugu could set a national example of how land reforms translate into real relief for citizens.

Conclusion

The state government’s proactive land reforms and the 50% reduction in ENGIS land title fees are commendable. But their purpose risks being undermined if housing costs remain out of reach for the average residents.

It’s time for a balanced response — one that holds landlords and agents accountable while safeguarding tenants’ rights. The true success of any government reform lies not in policy announcement but in the everyday impact on the lives of the people.

As residents continue to cry out over soaring rents in Enugu, the call for compassionate governance and effective housing regulation has never been louder.

Ndi Enugu appeals to the State Government for compassionate leadership in rescuing the struggling residents from the grip of exploitative landlords and agents. Without urgent intervention, many families may be forced into homelessness — sleeping under the bridges or even turning to sleeping on the streets in search of shelter. Such a reality would not only deface or tarnish the beauty and dignity of our beloved city but could also fuel social instability and rising crime rates, undermining the vision of a New Enugu State that the government is so diligently working to build.

✍️ By Michael Okolike
Digital Media Strategist | Published via MikeTech Blog

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