Tinubu @3: Cost Of Living Surge Pushes Residents To Slums, Satellite Towns

The dream of renting a decent home in Nigeria’s commercial capital is fast slipping out of reach for millions as a worsening cost-of-living crisis continues to reshape the housing landscape across Lagos State.

Soaring inflation, rising transport fares, and surging food prices have combined to place unprecedented pressure on households, forcing many residents to abandon city-centre living for cheaper slums, outskirts, and satellite towns in search of affordable accommodation.

The real estate and residential property market has reached what analysts describe as a tipping point under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, as housing costs increasingly outpace income levels for low- and middle-income earners.

For many workers, the situation has turned housing into a luxury rather than a basic necessity, with rents rising far beyond what the average salary can sustain.

Across Lagos, from Ajah to Agege, Surulere to Shomolu, landlords have continued to increase rents with little regard for prevailing economic realities.

Annual rents for modest two-bedroom apartments now range between N1.5 million and N4 million, while in highbrow areas such as Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi, rents for similar units often exceed N5 million to N15 million per year.

The steep increases have forced thousands of families, workers, and young professionals to relocate to peripheral communities in Lagos and neighbouring Ogun State, where accommodation is comparatively cheaper, though often at the cost of longer and more exhausting commutes.

In many cases, residents now live in satellite towns such as Mowe, Ibafo, Sango-Ota, Agbado, Sagamu, Ota, and Abeokuta, while continuing to work in Lagos, creating a daily migration pattern across the Lagos-Ogun corridor.

Speaking on the development, Taiwo Akorede, a Lagos worker who relocated to Mowe with his family, said the high cost of rent forced him out of the city despite the challenges of commuting.

“Since I moved to Mowe because of the rent, my journey to work has become very difficult. Transport fare has doubled, and sometimes I have to sleep in the office staff quarters to avoid lateness and queries,” he said.

He added that the relocation has placed additional strain on his family’s finances, as commuting costs now consume a significant portion of his income.

Similarly, Taiwo Adesanya, a 36-year-old secondary school teacher, said he had no choice but to leave Lagos after his rent was increased beyond what he could afford.

“I was paying N900,000 for my flat in Gbagada two years ago. When it was time for renewal, the landlord demanded N2.2 million. I could not cope,” he said.

“Rent in Mowe is less than half of what Lagos landlords are asking. At least my children can still eat and we can survive,” he added.

His experience mirrors a growing trend across Lagos, where residents are increasingly voting with their feet in response to escalating housing costs.

Real estate agents confirm a sharp rise in housing demand in border communities over the past two years, driven largely by Lagos-based workers seeking cheaper alternatives.

A property agent in Sango-Ota, Biodun Olatunji, said the influx of tenants from Lagos has significantly reshaped the housing market in Ogun border towns.

“Before, most tenants here had family ties. Now we are seeing bankers, civil servants, traders, and professionals moving in every week because Lagos has become too expensive,” he said.

According to him, a standard two-bedroom apartment in the area now costs between N400,000 and N700,000 annually, making it a more viable option for struggling households.

However, analysts warn that the trend reflects deeper structural issues in Lagos’s housing sector, including a widening housing deficit and insufficient supply of affordable homes.

Housing experts estimate that Lagos faces a shortage of over three million housing units, a gap that continues to widen due to rapid population growth and limited infrastructure expansion.

Urban planning lecturer at the University of Lagos, Dr Funke Adeyemi, said the situation requires urgent policy intervention.

“The government alone cannot close the housing gap. There must be incentives for private developers, rent regulation frameworks, and investment in satellite infrastructure,” she said.

“Until then, people will continue to relocate to cheaper communities outside the city,” she added.

The migration has also created severe pressure on transport infrastructure, with major highways such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos-Sagamu Expressway, and Abeokuta Expressway experiencing heavy gridlock during peak hours.

Thousands of commuters now spend between two to four hours daily travelling into Lagos for work, leaving home as early as 4:30 a.m. to beat traffic congestion.

“I wake up very early every day to catch the bus to Lagos Island,” said Ngozi Eze, a customer service officer. “By the time I get to work, I am already exhausted. But I have no choice because I cannot afford Lagos rent.”

Beyond individual hardship, economists warn that the growing displacement of residents could have wider implications for productivity, urban planning, and infrastructure sustainability in both Lagos and Ogun States.

While Ogun State has described the influx as an opportunity for economic expansion, local infrastructure in many affected communities is already under strain, with increased pressure on roads, schools, and public utilities.

Despite ongoing government infrastructure projects in border towns, many residents say their daily lives remain defined by long commutes, overcrowded public transport, and rising living costs.

For many Lagos workers now residing in satellite towns, the shift is not a choice but a necessity driven by economic survival, underscoring the widening gap between income levels and the cost of urban living in Nigeria’s largest city.