Students at the University of Lagos (Unilag) have urged the institution’s management to address the deteriorating state of on-campus hostels. They described the facilities as dirty, overcrowded, and lacking basic amenities.
Bisola, a 400-level Zoology student, shared her experiences with our correspondent, recounting her struggles while staying in various hostels, including MTH, Honors, and Moremi hostels.
“The hostels are not conducive at all. They are dirty, smelly, and the water supply is bad. Mosquitoes are everywhere, making it very uncomfortable,” she said.
She highlighted her time at Moremi Hostel as particularly challenging, recalling how her room was situated near a toilet.
“I had to fetch water from the second floor just to flush and clean up. It was a nightmare,” she added.
She also raised concerns about the mandatory utility bill of ₦40,000 per session, which was ₦20,000 in the previous session. Despite this payment, many students are unable to secure accommodation due to the limited spaces available.
“The cost of staying in a hostel ranges from ₦80,000 to ₦100,000 per session, yet students are uncertain if they will be allotted a space through the balloting system” Bisola said
Ahmed Azizat Adeleke, a 300-level student from the Department of History Education, noted that ongoing renovations have forced students into online classes. She described her past experiences in the hostels as affordable but uncomfortable.
“It was ₦45,000 last session, but in my first year, I paid around ₦25,000. Now, due to the renovations, the fees have increased to ₦85,000 and above. While I’d love to stay there again because it’s cheaper than off-campus hostels, the overcrowding and lack of facilities remain major issues,” she explained.
Ahmed also appealed to the management to expand hostel capacity and reduce overcrowding, which she attributed to squatting. “There are cases where 16 students share a room meant for eight people. This makes living conditions unbearable,” she said.
Students remain hopeful that the ongoing renovations will lead to significant improvements in hostel conditions. However, they urge the university to prioritize creating a conducive living environment, emphasizing the need for better sanitation, increased accommodation spaces, and a fairer allocation system.
