OPINION: The Soaring Cost of Living in Awka: A Ticking Time Bomb
Awka City
By Titus Maduako Eleweke
In recent years, Awka,the capital of Anambra State has experienced a disturbing and rapid rise in the cost of living. At the heart of this surge lies the unregulated and increasingly unaffordable cost of housing, with skyrocketing rents leading the charge.
Awka, once known as a moderately affordable city, is now becoming a financial pressure cooker for many residents, most of whom are civil servants earning modest salaries. Despite their limited income, they are forced to pay exorbitantly for basic necessities, especially accommodation. Today, securing a modest two-bedroom apartment in Awka costs anywhere from ₦800,000 to ₦1,000,000 per annum a steep and troubling rise from just a few years ago.
What makes this inflation even more puzzling is the comparison with neighboring cities such as Onitsha and Nnewi. These are more commercially vibrant and industrially active cities, yet the cost of housing and basic goods in these areas remains relatively lower. So, why is Awka less industrialized and offering fewer economic opportunities becoming so unaffordable?
One explanation frequently offered is the unchecked opulence of political office holders and Yahoo boys residing in the city. Many of them flaunt their wealth openly, driving up demand for luxury and mid-range housing. Their extravagant lifestyles, some argue, are distorting the local economy and contributing to a dangerous rise in living costs.
This trend has created a warped economic environment where property owners hike rents based on speculative values, rather than actual demand or affordability.
The consequences of this unchecked cost of living are not merely economic,they are deeply social and potentially destabilizing. When people are unable to meet their basic needs such as housing, food, and transportation through legitimate means, they become vulnerable to desperation. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that if this trend continues, Awka could see a surge in crime,ranging from petty theft and fraud to more serious offenses as citizens struggle to survive in an increasingly hostile economic environment.
This issue transcends economics; it directly threatens public safety and social cohesion.
Government intervention is not only necessary it is long overdue. Authorities must begin by reining in exploitative practices by landlords, many of whom continue to justify rent increases by citing rising building costs, even when their properties are decades old and long amortized. The government must take concrete steps to regulate the housing market, including:Enacting legislation to control arbitrary rent hikes,Establishing a rent tribunal to mediate disputes,Providing incentives for developers to build affordable housing and investing in low-cost housing schemes for public servants and low-income earners
These measures are not optional,they are part of the government’s constitutional duty to protect citizens from exploitation and hardship. Without such reforms, Awka risks becoming a city divided by wealth, where only the affluent can afford decent living, while the rest are pushed to the margins, both geographically and economically.
Affordable housing is not a luxury; it is a fundamental human right.
Titus Maduako Eleweke is a journalist,based in Awka,Anambra State
