Students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, have raised serious concerns over the soaring cost of accommodation, blaming house agents for what they describe as exploitative practices. Many of the students expressed frustration that the agent fees being demanded are now almost equivalent to the actual rent, making accommodation an overwhelming burden.
According to the students who spoke with The Nigeria Education News, the situation has worsened in the current academic session, with agents allegedly exploiting the high demand for accommodation. “They don’t even care about our welfare. The only language they understand is money,” one visibly frustrated student explained. “For a self-contained apartment of about ₦200,000, an agent will charge ₦60,000 to ₦80,000 on top of it as fees. That’s almost the cost of the rent itself.”
During a visit to the TASUED campus and its surrounding communities, The Nigeria Education News observed that students were not exaggerating the situation. Most houses around the university are controlled by local agents, and landlords rarely rent directly to students without involving them. This monopoly, students argue, has given the agents the power to dictate exploitative terms.
Another student described the scenario as “daylight robbery,” lamenting that the pressure on students is unfair, especially in a country where the cost of education is already high. “We are struggling to pay tuition fees, buy textbooks, and feed ourselves. Adding outrageous housing and agent fees is too much for us,” she said.
The problem has also created a sense of helplessness among students who have no choice but to comply. With limited accommodation within the school premises, the majority of students are forced to live off-campus. This dependency on private housing has left them vulnerable to agents who allegedly exploit the situation for profit.
Students selling wares and operating small kiosks around the school area also confirmed the complaints. One food vendor told The Nigeria Education News that she constantly hears students grumbling about housing costs. “Every time students come here, they complain about how much they spend on rent and agent fees. Some of them even say they want to quit school because they cannot cope,” she revealed.
The agents’ attitude, according to students, has become increasingly hostile. Some claimed that agents threaten to give apartments to others if their terms are not met immediately. “They don’t wait; they don’t care if you’re a student. Once they see money from someone else, they take it,” said a student who has been house-hunting for over a month.
Several students also argued that the exploitation goes beyond agent fees. They pointed out that some agents deliberately inflate rents and present them to students as the official rate, leaving students with no avenue for verification. “If you ask questions, they say ‘if you don’t want it, leave.’ It’s either you pay or you stay homeless,” another student recounted bitterly.
This growing housing crisis has sparked conversations among students about the need for the university to intervene. Many suggested that TASUED management should create more affordable hostels or regulate accommodation practices around the school environment. “If the school can provide enough hostels, we won’t have to beg agents for houses,” a student union representative suggested.
Some parents who brought their children registration also voiced their worries. One parent described the trend as “heartbreaking,” noting that parents are already overstretched financially. “We send money thinking it will cover school needs, only to find out that agents are the biggest beneficiaries,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, local observers believe that unless urgent measures are taken, the exploitative practices could discourage prospective students from choosing TASUED. “If a student knows accommodation will cost close to half a million in total, they might look for another school. This can affect TASUED’s reputation,” a community member warned.
Despite the outcry, agents continue to justify their fees as part of standard practice in property management. However, students maintain that the rates in Ijagun and its environs are unjustifiable compared to other institutions across the state. “We have friends in other universities, and their agent fees are not this outrageous. Why is TASUED different?” asked a student leader.
As of the time of The Nigeria Education News visit, no official statement had been issued by the university management on the matter. Students, however, insist that urgent intervention is required to ease the burden. “Education should not be this hard,” one final-year student sighed. “We are here to learn, not to fight endless battles with agents.”
