**Federal Government Intervenes in Rent Crisis with Renters-Focused Solutions** The federal government of Nigeria has taken steps to address the country's rent crisis with housing solutions focused on renters who spend a significant portion of their income on house rent. According to recent data, the income-to-rent ratio in Nigeria stands at approximately 70 percent, more than double the 30 percent or less recommended by the United Nations (UN). This has put immense pressure on average Nigerian workers, making it challenging for them to feed their families, pay bills for children's education, health, and other social needs. To alleviate this pressure, the government has introduced the Rent-to-Own housing scheme, which allows eligible Nigerians to move into homes while paying monthly instalments towards eventual ownership. The scheme will be implemented by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), offering two critical support mechanisms: an option for occupants to gradually own homes through monthly payments and a provision for flexible monthly instalments to cover annual rent. At a recent housing programme in Abuja, Ahmed Dangiwa, minister of housing and urban development, disclosed that the initiative would be implemented by the FMBN. "Recognising that not everyone is ready to buy a home, we have introduced two groundbreaking interventions at FMBN—the Rent-to-Own Scheme, which lets eligible Nigerians move into homes while paying monthly toward ownership. The Rental Assistance Product which allows Nigerians to pay annual rent upfront, with flexible monthly repayment options. These are practical measures to reduce housing stress, especially for urban dwellers and young families," the minister said. The government's efforts align with the UN-Habitat Global Action Plan for Slum Transformation and the Addis Declaration adopted at the 2024 Africa Urban Forum, which calls on African governments to leave no one—and no place—behind. The initiatives support the broader Renewed Hope Housing Programme, which includes large-scale Renewed Hope Cities, state-level Renewed Hope Estates, and Social Housing Estates for low-income earners. These efforts have attracted over N70 billion in private sector investments through public-private partnerships (PPPs).