Nigerian students declare national emergency over deplorable hostel conditions

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared a national emergency, citing the severe neglect of accommodation facilities in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. NANS warns that the continued deterioration of student hostels poses a significant threat to the welfare, safety, and dignity of students across the nation.

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Many hostels are in deplorable and dilapidated conditions, and they continue to deteriorate with little or no attention from the relevant authorities.

Babatunde Akinteye, NANS president, stated during the inauguration of the 2026 National Executive Council that "many hostels are in deplorable and dilapidated conditions, and they continue to deteriorate with little or no attention from the relevant authorities." He described environments characterized by poor sanitation, inadequate facilities, and other hazards, deeming them "not befitting of institutions of higher learning."

Reports from various campuses detail non-functional toilets, lack of water, overcrowded rooms, and buildings in disrepair. Some hostels are surrounded by overgrown bushes, with water-logged forecourts. Faded paint, cracked walls, and termite-damaged windows and doors are common sights. The situation is compounded by security concerns, with armed robbers reportedly attacking hostels and stealing students' belongings.

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Many students are forced to live in environments characterised by poor sanitation, inadequate facilities and other hazards. These conditions are not befitting of institutions of higher learning.

The problem extends beyond hostels, with many faculty and departmental structures also in ill-maintained states. Lecturers' quarters are worn out due to a lack of repair. While NANS appeals to alumni and the private sector for assistance, it stresses the need for a holistic solution. This includes addressing the caliber of administrators overseeing the decay and questioning the quality of education produced in such squalid environments. The association criticizes the government's role, noting the expansive growth of institutions without adequate maintenance plans, leading to disrepair and the creation of "slums and ghettoes" that can foster negative influences.

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the hostels are surrounded by bushes while the forecourt of the two hostels is water-logged. The paint on the buildings has faded, the walls cracked and the windows as well as sliding doors were half eaten by termites.