A New Hostel at UNILAG: A Symbol of Luxury or a Burden?
At the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Gbajabiamila Hall of Residence stands as a striking addition to the campus, designed to address the acute accommodation shortage faced by students. This three-storey building, located near the main entrance gate, is not just an architectural marvel but also a testament to the university’s efforts to enhance student living conditions. However, despite its grandeur, the hostel has sparked controversy due to its high costs and limited accessibility.
The building, named after Femi Gbajabiamila, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and now Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, is one of the newest structures on campus. While it aims to solve the accommodation challenges for students, many argue that it only serves a privileged few. The pricing of the hostel has raised eyebrows, with single rooms costing up to N950,000 per semester, which is significantly higher than the N80,000 charged in regular hostels.
This disparity has led to frustration among students who cannot afford the exorbitant fees. Many are forced to seek alternative accommodations off-campus, often leading to financial strain. A 300-level Philosophy student shared her experience, stating that “your pocket must be deep to get a space in the building.” She highlighted the difficulty of securing a spot in any of the regular hostels, emphasizing the challenge of accessing affordable housing.
Despite the university’s efforts to address the accommodation crisis, the situation remains dire. Less than 25% of the student population can secure official on-campus housing at the start of each academic session. This scarcity has led to increased competition for available spaces, resulting in rising housing costs and other associated issues such as squatting and hostel racketeering.
The Protests and the Rising Costs
The issue came to a head on August 21, 2025, when thousands of students at UNILAG took to the streets to protest a 40% hike in private hostel fees. The demonstrations, marked by chants of “No to exploitation!” and “Affordable housing now!”, reflected growing frustration over the escalating accommodation crisis. Reports indicated that the fee surge pushed four-man rooms from N500,000 to over N710,000, while single room prices skyrocketed to N950,000.
With UNILAG offering fewer than 8,000 bed spaces for nearly 40,000 students, many are forced to rely on private hostels, which have become increasingly unaffordable. The private hostels were initially intended to complement existing facilities, but they have now transformed into commercial ventures, raising concerns about their role in the education sector.
The Role of Private Hostels
El-Khanemi, another private hostel beside Gbajabiamila Hall, operates under the same management company and charges similar rates. Other hostels like Women Society and Moremi Extension also fall within comparable price ranges. This trend highlights the growing divide between students who can afford these premium options and those who cannot.
The circumstances surrounding the siting of Gbajabiamila Hall on campus reveal a collaboration between the university and an alumnus. Former Vice-Chancellor Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe sought the intervention of Femi Gbajabiamila to construct the hostel in a bid to address the persistent accommodation crisis. A Zonal Intervention Project was approved in 2020 to build a 484-bed hostel, with a total allocation of N1.6 billion. However, despite its commissioning in 2024, the hostel has yet to significantly alleviate the accommodation challenges.
Student Perspectives and Social Divides
Students have expressed frustration with the current state of affairs. One student described the situation as frustrating, noting that the university never had a history of private hostels within its premises until recently. They questioned how hostels meant for students could be turned into commercial enterprises for revenue generation on federal government property.
Another former student, Tobi Coker, expressed surprise that such a facility could be converted into a private hostel and priced beyond the reach of the average student. He emphasized that while generating revenue is acceptable, it should not come at the expense of struggling students.
Chinedu Chukwueze highlighted the social divide created by the private hostel system. Occupants of these hostels now see themselves as more privileged, enjoying amenities like 24-hour electricity, unlike those in public hostels who only receive power supply at certain hours.
Broader Implications and Solutions
The accommodation challenge is not unique to UNILAG. In other established public universities, even where efforts are made to provide student housing, facilities still fall short, leaving a significant deficit due to increasing student enrolment. For instance, a new student at Lagos State College of Health Technology had to pay N1.2 million to secure decent accommodation at the start of the academic session.
Parents, too, face similar challenges. Mrs Toyin Ayobanjo, whose daughter studies at Lagos State University, noted that her daughter’s private accommodation around Igando costs N800,000, and she shares the apartment with two other students to manage the cost.
Public affairs analyst Mr Goke Alimi sees this trend as part of a broader pattern emerging in public services. He argues that even where price disparities exist, they should be minimal, as a disparity of nearly 90% in the education sector sends the wrong signal.
UNILAG’s Response
Reacting to the controversy surrounding the pricing of bed spaces at Gbajabiamila Hall, the University of Lagos management explained that the facility was conceived and developed as a high-capacity, modern hostel equipped with enhanced amenities. In a statement, the university mentioned that the pricing reflects the actual cost implications of maintaining such a facility, including 24-hour electricity and water supply, security, waste management, sanitation services, infrastructure maintenance, and periodic replacement of fittings and equipment.
The university maintained that the facility is not operated as a profit-driven venture but as a self-sustaining model aimed at preserving quality, safety, and service standards. It assured that efforts are ongoing to explore partnerships and innovative models to expand both on-campus and off-campus housing capacity.
Looking Ahead
Lagos-based estate surveyor and valuer, Richard Olodu, urged prospective investors to explore opportunities in student housing. He highlighted the potential for growth in this sector, citing recent collaborations between the Lagos State government and private developers under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
Mr Chudi Ubosi, former President of the African Chapter of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI), attributed the rising rent crisis in Nigerian cities to multiple factors, including inflation, high building material costs, urbanisation, inadequate infrastructure outside major cities, speculation, rising land values, government charges, limited access to development finance, and institutional failures.
As the debate over student accommodation continues, the need for sustainable solutions becomes increasingly urgent. The challenges faced by students at UNILAG and other institutions highlight the importance of addressing the root causes of the accommodation crisis and ensuring that all students have access to affordable and adequate housing.
