About 40 percent of university lecturers in Nigeria now sleep in their offices due to the worsening housing crisis in the country. This was revealed by Timothy Nubi, a professor of estate management and sustainable housing advocate, during a public discussion on housing challenges.
Nubi made the disclosure at a film screening and conversation focused on solidarity and advocacy for inclusive housing for the urban poor, held at the University of Lagos. The event brought together researchers, civil society groups and housing advocates to discuss the growing housing difficulties faced by Nigerians.
According to the professor, the rising cost of accommodation in major urban centres, particularly Lagos, has forced many academics into extreme living conditions. He said the situation has become so severe that some lecturers now spend nights in their offices and use facilities around the faculty to bathe in the morning before resuming work.
Nubi explained that the development reflects the increasing pressure the housing crisis is placing on people who were traditionally considered part of Nigeria’s middle class. With rents rising rapidly in cities like Lagos, many academics can no longer afford housing close to their workplaces.
He cited a recent example of a two-bedroom apartment around the Akoka area of Lagos being rented for about N3.5 million per year. According to him, such costs are far beyond what many professors can comfortably afford, noting that the amount is equivalent to several months of a lecturer’s salary.
The professor also noted that the situation reflects a broader national housing challenge. Nigeria’s housing deficit, which was once estimated at around five million units, has grown significantly over the years and is now believed to be between 17 million and 22 million units.
He called for stronger collaboration between researchers, policymakers and civil society organisations to develop sustainable solutions to the housing crisis. According to him, inclusive housing policies are essential to prevent widening inequality and ensure social stability in the country.
