Accommodation Crisis Deepens in Nigerian Universities as Students Struggle for Safe, Affordable Housing

Securing admission into a Nigerian university is often celebrated as a major milestone, but for many students, the real battle begins afterward, finding safe, affordable accommodation.

Across the country, the demand for student housing far exceeds supply. School-owned hostels can only accommodate a fraction of students, leaving thousands to rely on expensive and sometimes unsafe private lodgings.

Rising Costs and Worsening Conditions

At the University of Lagos (UNILAG), less than 8,000 official hostel spaces exist for a student population where about 40,000 need accommodation. With limited availability, many students are forced into private hostels, where rents range from ₦250,000 to ₦800,000 per year, often exceeding tuition fees.

The financial strain is only part of the problem. Safety concerns loom large. A UNILAG survey revealed that nearly 70% of students have experienced theft, while others reported burglary, harassment, physical assault, and even rape.

Voices from the Campuses

For students like Yusuf Rasheedat of Kwara State University (KWASU), living in a school hostel offers relative safety and lower costs. “Living inside school is safe, and I don’t have to spend money on transport,” she said. “I pay ₦80,000 per session for a room of four, compared to ₦180,000 outside.”

However, not all are so fortunate. Mariam Adeshola, also of KWASU, pays ₦350,000 for off-campus housing but still struggles with power outages, poor water supply, and insecurity. “Our hostels are often burgled before we resume,” she lamented.

Similar concerns echo across other campuses. At Lagos State University (LASU), students like Zainab Adetayo pay between ₦350,000 and ₦800,000 yearly for off-campus housing due to the unavailability of school hostels. “When I gained admission, there were no hostels. The least rent outside was ₦80,000, and that was for poor facilities,” she said.

For Wuraola Akanni, a first-year LASU student, safety concerns outweighed cost. “My parents insisted I stay on campus for security reasons,” she explained. “We pay ₦352,000 for a shared room, but it’s still expensive.”

At Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), students face a different kind of struggle — overcrowding and decaying infrastructure. Mercy Olabiyi, an OAU student, described the hostel allocation as “a game of luck.” “We ballot every session,” she said. “I never got a slot and had to rent privately for ₦120,000, which later rose to ₦160,000. Some self-contained rooms go for ₦500,000, far beyond what most can afford.”

Another OAU student, who preferred anonymity, described the poor conditions of hostels. “The water is unsafe, the toilets are broken, and pipes leak waste. It’s unhygienic. Even though we pay ₦50,000 per session, the facilities are deplorable.”

Insecurity has also become a growing threat. In 2025, OAU recorded several robbery incidents both on and off campus, with reports of violent attacks and stolen property.

A System Under Strain

Students at UNILAG say corruption worsens the crisis. Kemi Ayodele, a 300-level student, disclosed that hostel slots are often resold at inflated prices. “People resell school hostels for ₦300,000 to ₦500,000. That’s why I still live at home and commute daily,” she said.

University administrators admit the problem is systemic. Dr. Alex Akanmu, Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Ilorin, said no Nigerian public university can currently house more than 30% of its student population. “It’s not a problem of land, but of funds and policy,” he explained. “At Unilorin, we use a public-private partnership model, yet we still accommodate less than 30% of students.”

He emphasized the need for private investment, alumni support, and policy reform. “Government alone cannot solve this problem,” he said. “We must encourage investors and alumni to build affordable hostels while ensuring proper oversight.”

The Way Forward

Experts agree that solving Nigeria’s student housing crisis requires a multi-pronged approach, combining public-private partnerships, stricter regulations, and stronger government involvement.

Policy reforms could help set clear standards for hostel pricing, safety, and maintenance. Universities, on their part, must ensure fair allocation of hostel spaces and curb exploitative reselling practices.

Until then, the dream of safe and affordable student housing will remain elusive for many,  turning what should be a time of learning and growth into a daily struggle for survival.