Hundreds of students at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka campus, took to the streets in protest following a staggering 40% hike in private hostel rents. The cost of single-occupancy rooms has surged to ₦950,000 per academic session, while four-person rooms previously priced at ₦500,000 now exceed ₦710,000. The demonstrations, marked by chants and placards demanding affordable housing, reflect growing frustration over the financial strain placed on students.
Private hostels have become a necessity for many due to limited on-campus accommodation—UNILAG offers fewer than 8,000 bed spaces for nearly 40,000 students. The situation worsened last year when university-owned hostels were closed for renovations, forcing students into online learning and staggered physical exams. With the new session approaching, students are anxious about housing options, especially as the university has yet to announce updated fees for its own hostels.
Hostel operators defend the price hike, citing rising costs for electricity, maintenance, and upgraded amenities. However, students argue that these justifications do little to ease the burden. Protest leaders are calling for regulatory intervention and expansion of affordable on-campus housing. UNILAG’s Dean of Students Affairs acknowledged the university’s limited control over private hostel pricing, noting that official hostels charged ₦43,000 per bed space last session. The protests underscore a broader crisis in Nigeria’s education system, where access to affordable student housing remains a pressing concern.
