When I am tired of talking Nigeria, I will often conclude with the phrase ‘we are who we are’. Lately, there has been a general increase in property rent in Lagos ‘in line with economic reality’. Whatever that means, I have seen it, I have heard it from caretakers, agents, inheritor children, and landlords (ladies) who are instigated by caretakers or their own sheer wickedness. If you have not heard it, you are lucky.
‘In line with economic reality’, if the trader who sells food and other wares can complain of FX and the bus driver can complain of fuel subsidy removal, what is the ‘economic reality’ for owners of houses built in the 1970s, 80s, etc?
‘In line with economic reality’ to houses built in the 1970s, 80s, etc, I shudder? Is it FX? Is it fuel subsidy removal? These are the people who find it difficult to make repairs when needed. Quick to collect from you but tardy to care about you.
What is the ‘economic reality’ that has happened to these houses? When you ask them why, they simply tell you to move out because they are very sure that at most 1 week after your exit, another person will rent the place. Abi, we are sha in a free market economy!
We are who we are. When we sit in our various comfort zones to blast our government, we need to consider what we are doing to the ‘economic reality’. The cost of accommodation is one of three top costs of living – the other two is food and transportation.
I close with a prayer that I often heard from the promo of a roofing agency as a child. ‘Oluwa je ki ile kiko se e se fun gbogbo wa; O Lord let owning a home be a possibility for us’. Amen!