All Progressives Congress chieftain Joe Igbokwe has launched a scathing criticism of what he describes as crippling rent levels in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, warning that the situation is driving desperate citizens toward crime.

In a strongly worded post on his Facebook page, Igbokwe accused landlords of exploiting the housing crisis and called on the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene. He argued that unchecked rent increases have turned accommodation into a luxury, even for working Nigerians who earn regular incomes.

Igbokwe said landlords, particularly in Lagos, are “killing and choking” residents with exorbitant rents, insisting that many property owners are demanding huge sums for buildings that have not been significantly upgraded in decades. He claimed that some landlords are still charging premium rates for houses constructed as far back as the 1970s, despite their age and condition.

He warned that the relentless pressure to meet rent obligations is pushing some Nigerians into theft and other illicit activities, as they struggle to avoid homelessness. According to him, the absence of effective rent control or regulatory oversight has emboldened landlords to raise prices without restraint, with little consideration for the economic realities facing tenants.

Igbokwe described many Lagos landlords as greedy and lacking empathy, alleging that they show no mercy to tenants who fall behind on payments. He said the current situation is not only worsening poverty but also undermining small and medium-sized businesses, which are forced to divert scarce resources to cover rent instead of investing in growth.

He urged the Lagos State Government to design and enforce policies that would protect tenants from arbitrary rent hikes and introduce a more humane framework for landlord-tenant relations. Such measures, he suggested, could include rent control mechanisms, incentives for affordable housing, and stricter oversight of property practices.

Framing the rent crisis as both a moral and economic issue, Igbokwe argued that housing should not become a trigger for criminality or social unrest. He maintained that unless authorities act swiftly to “call greedy landlords to order,” the pressure on ordinary Lagosians will continue to mount, with serious consequences for social stability and public safety.