By Shehu Yahaya
As the world prepares to celebrate World international Cities Day on 31 October 2026, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, National President of the Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria women wing (PRRFN), an interfaith specialist and peace advocate in Northern Nigeria, wish to draw the attention of governments, policymakers, urban planners, property owners, and other relevant stakeholders to the alarming rise in accommodation costs across many cities in Northern Nigeria.
In an interview with the press in kaduna she said, cities are meant to be centres of opportunity, peace, prosperity, and human development. However, when the cost of renting a house becomes unbearable for ordinary citizens, civil servants, small-business owners, young people, and low-income families, the very purpose of urban development is undermined.
The rising cost of accommodation is placing an enormous burden on households, forcing many families to spend a disproportionate share of their income on rent at the expense of food, education, healthcare, and other essential needs.
This situation deepens inequality, increases the vulnerability of already struggling communities, and threatens the social harmony that our society desperately needs.
Banditry, kidnapping and other activities of terrorism in the rural area has contributed towards causing massive migration of women to major cities in the northern part of Nigeria.
As an interfaith specialist and peace advocate, I believe that housing affordability is not merely an economic issue; it is also a matter of social justice, human dignity, and peacebuilding. When people are unable to afford decent accommodation, frustration and hardship increase, while the foundations of stable families and cohesive communities become weaker.
On this important occasion of World Cities Day, I therefore call on the governments of states across Northern Nigeria, the Federal Government, and relevant housing authorities to take urgent and practical steps to address the growing accommodation crisis.
These measures should include the development of affordable housing schemes, stronger monitoring of rental practices, incentives for private developers to provide low-cost housing, the provision of essential urban infrastructure, and policies that protect tenants from exploitative and unjustified rent increases.
Governments should also promote transparent housing policies and collaborate with traditional institutions, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and the private sector to develop sustainable solutions.
The Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria (PRRFN) recognises that peace goes beyond the absence of violence. It also requires social justice, economic inclusion, human dignity, and access to the basic necessities of life.
Affordable housing is an essential part of this foundation because stable homes contribute to stable families, stronger communities, and peaceful coexistence.
Our cities must not become places where only the wealthy can afford decent living conditions. Urban development should be measured not only by the beauty of buildings, roads, and commercial centres, but also by the ability of ordinary citizens to secure safe, decent, and affordable homes.
As we mark World Cities Day 2026, let us remember that a city cannot truly be peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable when a significant number of its residents struggle to find an affordable place to call home.
I therefore urge our leaders to make affordable accommodation a priority in their urban development agenda. Providing decent housing is an investment in family stability, economic productivity, community resilience, and peaceful coexistence.
Let us build cities that do not merely accommodate people, but also protect their dignity, promote inclusion, and give every resident a fair opportunity to thrive.
Affordable housing is a foundation for peaceful communities and sustainable cities.
Signed:
Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani
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