UNIBEN students lament poor state of hostels

Students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State have expressed concern over the deplorable state of their hostels. They said despite the increase in the hostel maintenance fee last year, things have worsened.

“Students are forced to live under murky conditions, water scarcity and attacks from predators that live in the bushes inside their hostels, because of these predators, predominantly snakes, students have had to limit their night class activities.
     
Just recently, medical students in the institution led a protest condemning the just concluded NASU/SSANU strike and raising issues about the deplorable state of their hostels.

A 300-level student of the Department of Mass Communication identified as Patience said, “Life was better when we paid lesser amount for hostel maintenance fee. There was never a time I stored water in my first year. Now that we have been asked to pay twice the amount, we are left to survive under harsh conditions, when we should be enjoying”.

The hostel maintenance fee was initially N8, 000 until the 2017/2018 academic session when it was increased to N17, 000.

Another student from the Department of Fine and Applied arts, simply identified as Rachael accused the management of insensitivity to their plight.

She said, “ Ekehuan campus is a terrible place to live in. There’s no light and no water. We do not have light in the daytime and at night, it is still not assured. We do not enjoy half of the privileges that the students in the Ugbowo campus enjoy. We have limited facilities. I believe the university can do better.