Port Harcourt – The International Union of Tenants (IUT), based in Stockholm, Sweden, has urged the Rivers Government to take urgent action to address rising house rents across the state.
The IUT President, Marie Linder, made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt.
Linder described the escalating cost of rent as a systematic failure requiring immediate government intervention.
She called on the government to halt the indiscriminate conversion of residential properties to commercial use and address excessive rent increases through effective regulation.
“The situation described by our Nigerian member is deeply alarming. When tenants are forced to spend more than their entire income on rent, housing systems are no longer functioning,” she said.
Linder stressed that housing should be regarded as a fundamental human right rather than a commodity for profit.
“Housing must be treated as a human right, not a commodity. Authorities must act now to prevent unjustified rent increases and protect affordable housing,” she stated.
According to her, governments have a responsibility to guarantee affordability, security of tenure and protection against exploitation.
She added that public authorities must prevent displacement and ensure access to adequate housing for all citizens.
Linder expressed support for calls by the Rivers State chapter of the National Union of Tenants of Nigeria (NUTN) for urgent government intervention to address the housing challenge.
She advocated policies aimed at restoring affordable housing and regulating practices that contribute to rising rents.
“At a time when housing affordability challenges are intensifying globally, Nigeria’s situation highlights the need for policies that put people before profit,” added.
The IUT president reaffirmed the IUT’s commitment to promoting tenant rights and housing justice worldwide.
NAN reports that the IUT intervention followed a petition submitted by the NUTN to the state government.
The union appealed for action to curb rising rents in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, describing the situation as a growing socio-economic crisis.
In the letter, signed by the union’s Secretary, Mr Ceaser Enwefah, the NUTN stated that the two cities are predominately inhabited by civil servants, company employees, self-employed persons and retirees.
Emwefah said the N70,000 national minimum wage could no longer meet workers’ housing needs in the face of rising rental costs.
He claimed that about 80 per cent of residents in the two urban centres spend more than their annual income on rent, leaving little for other household needs.
The union called on the state government to implement policies that would make housing more affordable and accessible to residents.
