DISPLACED UNILAG STUDENT SQUATTERS- A RETHINK
It is quite sad this is happening at this period of our development as a nation. There have always been squatters in university halls of residence and despite not being legally approved, authorities have always closed their pretending as if the problem never existed in view of the fact they could not fully meet this need in terms the huge gap between supply and demand for accommodation by students.

Probably, authorities in the university system could have approved maximum number of squatters per room and charge a token for it rather than leave Porters creaming off students while the universities still pay for overstretched facilities. It is not surprising that the order to enforce no squatting rule by the Porters is being implemented with iron fists because an unapproved source income has been blocked.

But why should things degenerate to this level while we yet play the ostrich? It could only have happened because of lack of creativity. As said earlier, there have always been squatters in the hostel environment and indeed squatters who are either students of other nearby institutions and non students at all. If anyone had thought there is no solution to check this illegal non students squatters, the current developments in UNILAG put a lie to that. It should even be a lot easier with technology in the present age.

Now the issue that bother the hearts of Nigerians is whether we can continue this way and expect a change if the educational system cannot provide decent accommodation for students whom we hope would take up the gauntlet to innovate and bring technology to develop our dear country if they can be sleeping on bare floors in open places and classrooms outside the halls of residence.

During our days in the university, at least the experience of the University of Lagos is that as a first year student, one was assured of securing an accommodation. Same was true for all final year students. UNILAG cannot boast of this now as I am aware that many first year students could not secure accommodation aggravated by the balloting system that has been introduced recently coupled with the problem that a number of the halls of residence are being renovated. I have problem with the balloting system but first year students should not go through this just like the final year student due to no other reasons than the fact that first years students are yet to know the environment while final year students should be distracted when they have prepare for final examinations and project writing.

One would be tempted to ask if the authorities never envisaged that there would be chaos in the demand for a place to hang for students without legs allocation of space? In a sane environment, even where squatting were illegal, this is when a tacit approval would have been granted to address the challenge with the ill-timed renovations on campus.

If university managers were a lot more creative, they would probably achieve more in getting sponsors like donor agencies and private individuals to build more hostels knowing fully well that such ventures cannot be commercialized otherwise the children of the poor from where comes most geniuses will be denied education.
Sadly, Nigeria in the last few years have seen awards being doled out to moneybags without clear evidence of such individuals’ contributions to societal development.
While a lot more could still be done by UNILAG and similar institutions across the country my sincere advice is that rather than wield the big stick to stem protests by students, the authorities should actually engage them a lot more and that would increase the level of confidence in the system.

In addition, squatting permits should be issued at reasonable charge on presentation of undertakings by both squatter and and”landlord” to abide by the rules of the university. This to me appears a very expedient way to manage the current challenges.

Abiodun FOLUSO, Chartered Insurance Practitioner. (abiodun.foluso@gmail.com)