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Why homeowners in Nigeria refuse to rent out houses to single women

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Nigeria, most landlords refuse to rent out their houses to single women and the reasons have been researched by BBC.

The foremost reason why landlords avoid renting to single women is that they suspect them of being prostitutes. A single woman who wants to get a house might have to be accompanied with a man or experience difficulties finding an apartment to rent.

A successful career woman, Olufunmilola Ogungbile, 30, who moved to Lagos after securing a good job with the Ogun state government as a project administrator, was reduced to sleeping on a friend’s couch after five months of apartment-hunting in Abeokuta, Ogun state. Despite being financially independent, she struggled to find an apartment in middle and upmarket areas because she was single.

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Why homeowners refuse to rent out houses to single women in Nigeria revealed

“The first question the landlord would ask me is if I’m married?” Ms Ogungbile told BBC reporter Abigail Ony Nwaohuocha, “I’d say ‘No’, and they’d follow with, ‘Why not’?”

She said this often left her puzzled.

What does my marital status have to do with me getting a place to live in?

She continued:

Ninety-nine per cent of the landlords I met did not want to rent to me because I am a single woman. Most landlords and agents would tell me, ‘Can you bring your boyfriend or your husband?’ In these kinds of apartments, we don’t like boys coming in. We just want decent people.”

In this part of the world, if you are not married then you are a prostitute, she added.

Ms Ogungbile believes she fought back against discrimination in her own little way – by refusing to present a man.

Part of fighting the stigma was me refusing to bring a spouse or a partner because that was part of the criteria before they would hand me the keys, she said.

Sylvia Oyinda, 31, a product manager in the retail sector in Lagos, agrees that the stigma makes it difficult for single women to rent in Nigeria.

 

Why homeowners refuse to rent out houses to single women in Nigeria revealed

 

Ms Oyinda was engaged when she started looking for an apartment. Landlords refused to meet her without her fiancé.

There is a saying ‘small girl, big god’ that describes young single women who rent alone or squat with other females. The saying refers to single women who have sponsors, typically older men, who pay their rent.

Ms Oyinda believes landlords assume most young single women are sponsored by men.

The three landlords I met all refused to show me their apartments. They would tell me, ‘Don’t bother.’

Out of frustration, she stopped scouting on her own and decided to go with her partner, who she is now married to, and it was only then that she was taken seriously.

Coleman Nwafor, a landlord and property owner, explained to BBC the reason for this discrimination, saying:

Most single ladies are under the responsibility of their parents or a lover. You can never tell what will happen after the first year. And every landlord wants a tenant who will pay without stress and renew their contract once it expires.

Most single ladies are not working. There are more jobs for men than women in Nigeria. That is just the way it is.

Yinka Oladiran, 25, who moved from New York to Lagos in May 2016 to pursue a career as a TV presenter, said they refused to rent to her except she brings her father.

There were landlords who said they did not want to rent to me until they had spoken to my father to make sure that he was OK with it, even though I was paying with my own money.

My opinion didn’t matter. The landlords try to police women.

She searched for more than six months before she finally got an apartment in April 2017. Even after getting the house, she was still constantly undermined by security staff, especially when she came home late from work, as they often asked her who she was visiting.

“For that to even happen over and over again was very insulting,” Ms Oladiran said.


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Oluyede Appointed New CDS as Tinubu Sacks Service Chiefs

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Tinubu Independence Day speech 2025
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President Bola Tinubu has announced major changes in Nigeria’s military leadership, appointing General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), replacing General Christopher Musa.

The shake-up, revealed on Friday in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, also saw new appointments across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Under the new military hierarchy, Major-General W. Shaibu becomes the Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke takes over as the Chief of Air Staff, while Rear Admiral I. Abbas assumes office as the Chief of Naval Staff.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retains his position.

According to the statement, the changes are part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture.

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“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” the statement read.

“He charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them by further enhancing the professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

All the appointments take immediate effect.

General Oluyede’s elevation to CDS marks a rapid rise within the military leadership. He was appointed acting Chief of Army Staff in December 2024, following the death of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.


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Nottingham Forest Beats Porto in Sean Dyche’s Europa League Debut

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Nottingham Forest began a new chapter under manager Sean Dyche with an impressive 2-0 victory over FC Porto in the Europa League on Thursday night at the City Ground.

The win marked Forest’s first European triumph since the 1995/96 season, ending a decade-long wait for continental glory.

Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring in the 19th minute from the penalty spot after a handball in the area, while Brazilian forward Igor Jesus sealed the result with another spot-kick in the 77th minute.

The disciplined performance also saw Forest earn their first clean sheet since April, signaling an immediate impact from Dyche’s trademark defensive organization.

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READ ALSO: Nottingham Forest Appoint Sean Dyche as Head Coach Until 2027

The hosts, who had gone 10 games without a win prior to Dyche’s arrival following Ange Postecoglou’s sacking, frustrated a Porto side that entered the fixture unbeaten in 11 matches across all competitions. Dyche’s compact 4-4-2 setup neutralized Porto’s attacking threat, with goalkeeper Matt Turner rarely tested throughout the encounter.

The victory lifts Forest into a promising position in their Europa League group and gives fans renewed optimism for the rest of the campaign. Dyche hailed the result as “a foundation to build on” as he looks to restore stability and resilience to the side.

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BREAKING: Omoyele Sowore Arrested at Federal High Court, Abuja After Meeting Nnamdi Kanu

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Omoyele Sowore Arrested at Federal High Court Abuja After Meeting Nnamdi Kanu
Omoyele Sowore Arrested at Federal High Court Abuja After Meeting Nnamdi Kanu
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Human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore was reportedly arrested on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after meeting the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Eyewitnesses said Sowore was whisked away by security operatives on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, moments after leaving the courtroom where he had exchanged greetings with Kanu.

The activist, known for his outspoken stance on governance and civil rights, had earlier shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) confirming his meeting with Kanu, describing him as “powerful and unrelenting.”

Reacting to the arrest, prominent human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong condemned the incident on X, calling it “preposterous” and a violation of judicial integrity.

Effiong wrote:

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“The arrest of Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja moments ago is preposterous.
The police and the Tinubu regime are making a mockery of our judicial system.
He should be freed immediately.
Stop the shenanigans.”

As of press time, the reason for Sowore’s arrest remains unclear, and authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the incident.

A video circulating online shows the moment the activist was surrounded by police officers before being taken away from the court premises.

This development comes just hours after Nnamdi Kanu told the court he would be representing himself following the withdrawal of his legal team, led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).


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Two Killed, Two Injured as Plane Bursts Into Flames After Takeoff Crash in Venezuela

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A Piper Cheyenne plane exploded after takeoff in Venezuela, killing two and injuring two others. Officials suspect mechanical failure.
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A tragic plane crash in Venezuela has claimed two lives and left two others injured after a Piper Cheyenne I aircraft erupted into flames shortly after takeoff on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

The incident occurred at Paramillo Airport in Táchira State, with the aircraft crashing within the vicinity of San Cristóbal National Park moments after takeoff.

A shocking video circulating online shows the aircraft struggling to gain altitude before tilting sharply, striking one of its wings on the ground, and exploding into a massive fireball.

Witnesses nearby can be heard screaming in horror as the plane hit the ground and burst into flames.

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According to Mail Online, local authorities identified the deceased as Toni Bortone and Juan Maldonado, while two other passengers survived but sustained serious injuries.

Preliminary reports suggest the pilot may have lost control after one of the aircraft’s tires exploded during takeoff.

Emergency services, including firefighters, Táchira Civil Protection, and the Bolivarian National Police (PNB), responded swiftly to the crash site around noon, battling the blaze and rescuing survivors from the wreckage.

Officials confirmed that the aircraft was being used for government logistics operations, although further details about its mission remain under investigation.

The ill-fated plane, identified as a Piper Cheyenne I (PA-31T1), is a twin-engine turboprop model manufactured by Piper Aircraft in the late 1970s. The aircraft type is widely used in both civilian and governmental operations due to its reliability and performance.

Aviation authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash, focusing on potential mechanical failure or maintenance issues.

This latest tragedy follows another aviation accident in Venezuela last month. In September 2025, a Learjet 55 crashed near Simón Bolívar International Airport outside Caracas during takeoff amid adverse weather conditions, leaving two passengers injured.

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Nnamdi Kanu Tells Court He’ll Defend Himself as Lead Counsel Kanu Agabi, Others Withdraw

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NNAMDI KANU
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The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday informed the Federal High Court that he would be representing himself in his ongoing trial after his legal team, led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), withdrew from the case.

Agabi, a former Attorney-General of the Federation, told the court that the entire defence team was stepping down, explaining that the defendant had decided to personally take over the conduct of his case.

“All counsel in the defence have agreed to withdraw as the defendant has chosen to represent himself,” Agabi announced before the presiding judge.

Confirming the development in open court, Kanu stated that he had opted to handle his own defence “for now,” though he might reconsider that decision at a later stage. When asked by the judge whether he wanted the court to assign him another lawyer, Kanu declined, insisting he would proceed on his own terms.

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In his brief oral argument, the IPOB leader maintained that the court lacked jurisdiction to try him, reiterating his long-standing position on the matter.

Meanwhile, confirming Kanu’s presence in court, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore shared an update on his X (formerly Twitter) account, saying he met with the separatist leader in person.

Sowore wrote:

“Finally, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and I met at the Federal High Court today. The man is powerful and unrelenting. We greeted and hugged and the bond is strong!”

Thursday’s proceedings mark another dramatic twist in the long-running legal battle between the Nigerian government and Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in custody facing charges related to treasonable felony and separatist activities.

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