Tenants Protest Proposed ₦3 Million Rent Increment for FHA prototype old NSCIA Housing in Lugbe
A group of concerned tenants residing in the 3-bedroom residential quarters owned by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) in Lugbe have formally petitioned the Council and its Secretary-General, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, over what they describe as an exorbitant and unjustifiable rent hike.
In a letter addressed to the NSCIA leadership, the tenants painted a troubling picture of the condition of the buildings at the time of their initial occupancy, claiming the houses were in a state of serious disrepair, unfit for modern habitation without substantial personal investment.
According to the petition, many of the tenants undertook full-scale renovations at their own expense to make the apartments liveable.
Some of the repair works cited included wall replaster, soakaway, replacement of broken tiles and sanitary fittings, sinking of boreholes to provide water, and complete overhaul of water systems.
Others include installation of doors, aluminium windows, kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, and new ceilings, structural repairs using personal funds and purchase, and installation of prepaid electricity meters
The tenants argue that the improved state of the homes today is not the result of any upgrades or maintenance by NSCIA but rather due to their own financial efforts.
The petition further challenges the proposed rent increase to ₦3 million per annum, asserting that this figure does not reflect the true rental value of similar properties within the Lugbe area.
Citing market comparisons, the tenants note that similar old Federal Housing Authority (FHA)-style 3-bedroom houses in the same neighborhood go for as low as ₦500,000 to ₦600,000 annually.
In contrast, the NSCIA houses, they say, lack perimeter fencing, tied roads, and modern finishing typically associated with higher-end rentals in the area.
“The proposed ₦3 million rent is not only excessive but does not reflect the age, structure, or amenities of the houses in question,” the letter reads. “It is far above prevailing market rates and completely disregards the financial contributions of tenants who have had to renovate and maintain these properties themselves.”
The tenants conclude their appeal by urging the NSCIA to reassess the rent increment and adopt a more reasonable figure, suggesting that an increase not exceeding ₦1 million per annum would be more in line with current market values and the realities on the ground.
They emphasize that a fair rental policy would recognize both the structural limitations of the aging buildings and the substantial personal investments made by tenants to upgrade the homes.
None of these tenants are Lees than 3 years in the apartment, whereas some are there as far as 20 years. Yes, there are cases of defaulters, 2 – 3 years rent, but they have paid up, and the remaining has promised pay up before December.
Prof. Oloyede should be more compassionate since the defaulters had started complying.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the NSCIA or Professor Oloyede regarding the petition.
