70% of scholars shun campus hostels over poor situations

Operators within the constructing sector have mentioned the poor situation of campus hostels is pushing practically 70 per cent of scholars towards non-public and off-campus lodging choices.

Companion & West Africa Tax Chief at Deloitte, Yomi Olugbenro, revealed this on the 2025 Obligatory Persevering with Skilled Growth programme, themed “Navigating Rising Authorized and Monetary Reforms: Alternatives and Implications for Property Surveyors and Valuers in Nigeria”, organised by the Lagos State Department of the Nigerian Establishment of Property Surveyors and Valuers.

He mentioned, “It’s estimated that greater than 70 per cent of upper schooling college students search different lodging on account of poor campus hostels. Greater than 15 million larger schooling college students in Nigeria are anticipated to mature right into a devoted asset class.”

In an unique interview with The Punch, an actual property guide, Ajekiigbe Josiah, mentioned it was no secret that many school-owned hostels have been outdated.

He mentioned, “It’s no secret that many school-owned hostels are outdated, and even these which might be lately constructed or renovated typically fail to obtain correct upkeep. Whereas consideration is commonly centered on administrative duties resembling room allocation or porter duties, little effort is positioned on correct facility administration. With out constant repairs, even new hostels can shortly deteriorate, compromising the standard of scholar life.

“Poor facility administration manifests in a number of methods. Sanitary areas resembling bathrooms are sometimes uncared for, water provide could be unreliable, and overcrowding stays a persistent drawback. As well as, insufficient safety measures go away college students weak, creating an setting that’s uncomfortable and unsafe. These situations make it tough for college students to deal with their research or really feel at house on campus. Consequently, many college students more and more search non-public alternate options. Personal hostel buyers typically present superior providers, prioritising cleanliness, safety, and immediate upkeep. By addressing the very points that plague school-owned hostels, these non-public choices supply a extra snug and dependable residing expertise, even when it comes at a better price.

“This development highlights a basic hole within the administration of public scholar lodging. Faculties threat dropping relevance in scholar housing except they spend money on correct facility administration, common upkeep, and safety enhancements. With out such interventions, non-public hostels will proceed to dominate, leaving school-owned hostels underutilised regardless of their potential benefits.”

Corroborating the above, an property surveyor, Olorunyomi Alatise, said that the problem stems from poor upkeep, insufficient provision, and the restricted capability of campus hostels, which go away college students with little alternative however to hunt different lodging.

He mentioned, “It’s fairly alarming that the lodging supplied on campus are sometimes inadequate for college students. Even when lodging exist, many are poorly maintained and in a state unfit for snug residing. I recall my very own expertise at school: I used to be assigned a room in one of many so-called “prestigious” hostels, not prestigious as a result of it was snug or well-kept, however somewhat for its notoriety of neglect and decay. I couldn’t keep there and had no alternative however to search for alternate options off-campus.

“The issue is that as extra college students search housing elsewhere, demand for off-campus lodging rises, driving rents to exorbitant ranges. I as soon as carried out a valuation in Kwara State and noticed this firsthand: properties situated close to colleges command considerably larger rents, generally double, in comparison with related properties farther away.

“The basis trigger is evident: poor upkeep, insufficient provision, and inadequate capability of campus hostels go away college students with little alternative however to hunt alternate options. Consequently, greater than half of scholars find yourself residing off-campus, typically paying way over they need to. The dearth of sufficient, well-maintained campus housing has a direct impression on college students’ monetary burdens and total well-being.”

In the meantime, an architect, Olusola Amusan, mentioned college students more and more flip to off-campus or non-public hostels as a result of restricted campus areas, overcrowding, hygiene issues, and a need for consolation, privateness, and higher studying environments push them to hunt extra appropriate alternate options regardless of larger prices.

He mentioned, “My latest dialogue with Adeniyi Giwa and Esemjay Jonathan has made me realise among the primary the reason why college students search for viable alternate options to residing in hostels on campus. These causes would fluctuate primarily based on private preferences relevant to every scholar. This might vary from availability of hostel lodging, affordability, well being & consolation and want for privateness.

“The University of Lagos, as an illustration, makes use of a poll system to supply hostel lodging for college students of their hostel on campus. Although the price of securing such is subsidised and really inexpensive, the variety of occupants in a room could be a minimal of eight individuals, as many instances, college students take the freedom to squat with their buddies in the identical room infrequently, thereby leading to overcrowding, air pollution and poor hygiene. Furthermore, these hostels typically have a typical bathroom and bathtub for the rooms, thereby leading to an unhygienic expertise most time. These hostel lodging could be as low cost as N65,000 per educational yr.

“There are some that see this case as not conducive sufficient for his or her wards, and they also would somewhat go an additional mile of paying much more to safe higher lodging with the privately owned hostels on campus. These ones, although they are often costly, assure a extra first rate residing setting for the scholars. A room with its non-public bathroom and bathtub, together with a laundry spot, is designed solely for 4 college students. In some circumstances, there may be availability of social facilities like communal areas, a very good water provide, a well-landscaped setting, good safety and free wifi for his or her welfare.

“One other benefit of those non-public hostels is their proximity to social actions inside campus and ease of accessibility to the lecture halls, along with all. Lastly, some college students are additionally pressured to depart the varsity premises for hostel lodging off-campus due to the necessity for privateness, which is important to the character of their course of examine. The artistic ones, for instance, would somewhat hire their hostel lodging in a really serene setting, which is void of frequent intrusion by common scholar life on campus with a view to help their meditation and productiveness.”