A healthy environment is important for studies, as elsewhere
While warning that continued neglect of accommodation facilities poses a serious threat to the welfare, safety and dignity of students in our universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared a national emergency to redress the situation. “Many hostels are in deplorable and dilapidated conditions, and they continue to deteriorate with little or no attention from the relevant authorities,” NANS president, Babatunde Akinteye, said during the inauguration of the 2026 National Executive Council last week. “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.”
In most campuses of our tertiary institutions, the toilets are not working and where they do water is not available. In many of the hostels, the rooms are overcrowded and there are no basic facilities. On one campus, according to a recent report, “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.” There have also been reports of armed robbers attacking hostels and carting away students’ belongings.
