The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has witnessed a wave of confusion following reports that final-year students were unexpectedly assigned upper bunk hostel spaces during the recent accommodation exercise. The development, which contradicts the long-standing practice of prioritising senior students for more convenient lower bunks, has triggered widespread concerns among the affected students.
The issue surfaced shortly after the institution commenced its migration from the old KOFA portal to the newly launched UNIBEN Student Portal. The transition, aimed at improving digital services and streamlining academic records, inadvertently led to errors in the allocation of hostel bed spaces. Students discovered the unusual assignments while checking their accommodation status on the updated portal, prompting immediate backlash on social media and within various student groups.
In its official response, the Students’ Union clarified that the error did not stem from deliberate negligence or policy changes by the university but was a direct consequence of the data transfer between the two platforms. According to the union, the new portal automatically generated bed space allocations during the migration process, leading to mismatches in student levels and bunk assignments.
The Director of Information and Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union, Comrade Ahonsi Godwin, released a statement reassuring students that the issue is receiving urgent attention. He explained that the union has contacted the relevant university authorities to highlight the system error and demand immediate corrections to protect the interests of final-year students.
Comrade Godwin appealed for calm across the student community, noting that the union fully understands the discomfort and frustration caused by the situation. He emphasised that the Students’ Union is committed to ensuring that final-year students are reassigned to lower bunks in recognition of their seniority and the demands of their academic schedules.
The union acknowledged that the portal migration is a complex process and technical disruptions are sometimes unavoidable. However, it stressed that such glitches should not disadvantage students, particularly those in their final year who are preparing for research projects, examinations and graduation-related activities.
In addition to addressing the bunk allocation challenges, the Students’ Union informed students that booking for special hostels will soon commence. It urged students to rely exclusively on verified communication channels to avoid misinformation, especially at a time when multiple system updates are ongoing.
The union’s statement also highlighted the importance of cooperation during the portal upgrade, noting that the university aims to introduce a more efficient, secure and user-friendly digital system. It assured students that once the technical issues are fully resolved, the new portal will enhance access to academic services and make hostel management more transparent.
While many students welcomed the union’s intervention, several expressed hope that the university’s ICT unit would accelerate efforts to restore order to the accommodation system. Students warned that prolonged delays could disrupt their academic concentration and lead to overcrowding in the hostels, especially as examinations draw closer.
As UNIBEN continues its shift to the new digital platform, stakeholders across the institution are optimistic that the lingering issues will be resolved promptly. The incident has also sparked broader discussions about the need for thorough testing of university portals before full-scale deployment to prevent avoidable disruptions in student welfare and administrative processes.
