By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
Students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), have expressed frustration over a sharp increase of nearly 40% in the cost of private hostel accommodation on the Akoka campus.
Findings show that some hostel operators have raised annual rents significantly.
A four-person room that cost ₦500,000 last academic session now goes for over ₦710,000, while a single room has risen to about ₦950,000 per year.
The hike follows last year’s closure of university-owned hostels for renovations by the Federal Government, which forced many students to rely on private hostels amid a surge in demand.
The closure also led to online learning and staggered physical examinations.
As the new session approaches, students remain anxious about accommodation choices, while the university management has yet to release official hostel fees for the coming year.
When contacted, UNILAG’s Head of Communication Unit, Adejoke Ibraheem, directed inquiries to the unit’s official email but declined further comments.