The growing outcry by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) over the escalating cost of off-campus accommodation in universities across South-West Nigeria has once again brought to the fore a long-standing crisis in Nigeria’s higher education sector. For thousands of students and their families, securing accommodation near campuses has become one of the most expensive aspects of university education, sometimes even surpassing tuition fees.

Across university towns in the South-West, the reality is increasingly grim. Students now pay between N150,000 and N250,000 yearly for a single room, while self-contained apartments can cost between N350,000 and N600,000. In some locations, particularly around the University of Ibadan, furnished hostels are reportedly rented for as much as N1.3 million per year. For a country where many households struggle with rising food, transportation and education costs, these figures are simply unsustainable, particularly for low-income earners who constitute the masses. The situation raises fundamental questions about the role of government in student housing and whether adequate policy attention has been given to hostel development in Nigerian universities.

Historically, the Federal Government played a significant role in providing hostel accommodation within university campuses. Many of the existing hostels in older institutions such as the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Lagos were constructed during the early decades of Nigeria’s university expansion. These facilities were designed to accommodate a significant proportion of students and were considered an essential component of campus infrastructure.

However, over the past three decades, government investment in hostel development has declined significantly, even as student enrolment has expanded rapidly. The establishment of new federal and state universities, coupled with increased access to tertiary education, has placed enormous pressure on existing accommodation facilities. Unfortunately, the expansion of hostels has not kept pace with the growth in the student population.

In many universities today, on-campus hostels can accommodate only 10 to 20 per cent of the student population. This has forced most students to seek accommodation in surrounding communities, creating a thriving but largely unregulated off-campus housing market.

In the absence of adequate government investment, the private sector has stepped in to fill the gap. Landlords, developers and hostel operators have constructed various forms of student accommodation near campuses. In many ways, this private-sector participation has helped expand housing supply and prevented a complete collapse of the student accommodation system.

However, this growth has occurred with little coordination or policy direction from government or university authorities. Most off-campus hostels are developed purely as commercial ventures, with rent levels determined by market forces rather than affordability considerations. As demand continues to rise, landlords often increase rents arbitrarily, knowing that students have limited alternatives.

Compounding the problem is the widespread practice of demanding multiple years of advance rent. In many university communities, landlords insist on two or even three years of advance payment before a student can secure a room. For families already struggling with tuition, books, feeding and transportation costs, this requirement represents an enormous financial burden.

The lack of proper regulation has also encouraged exploitative practices by house agents operating with little oversight. Students frequently complain about inflated agency fees, hidden charges and arbitrary rent increases. In some cases, agents collect payments for accommodations that do not meet basic safety or sanitation standards.

The consequences of this housing crisis are far-reaching. Students are increasingly forced to share overcrowded rooms, live far from campus or settle for substandard buildings. Some students spend several hours commuting daily from distant neighbourhoods, affecting their academic performance and overall well-being.

Even more troubling are reports of students sleeping in lecture halls or temporary spaces because they cannot secure accommodation. Such conditions undermine the quality of the university experience and raise serious concerns about safety, health and academic productivity.

Addressing this problem requires a coordinated response from the government, universities and the private sector. First, the government must recognise student accommodation as a critical component of educational infrastructure. Just as lecture halls, laboratories and libraries are essential to learning, adequate housing is necessary for an academic environment conducive to learning. Federal and state governments must therefore prioritise the development and rehabilitation of hostels within public universities.

One effective strategy is to expand Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements for student housing. Under this model, private investors can build and manage hostels within university campuses under regulated agreements that ensure affordability and quality standards. Several universities have experimented with this model, but its adoption remains limited. With proper incentives and transparent frameworks, PPPs could significantly expand the supply of student accommodation.

Second, governments must introduce stronger tenancy regulations in university communities. The growing practice of demanding multiple years of advance rent should be reviewed, and clear limits should be established. Students, like other tenants, deserve legal protection against arbitrary rent increases and exploitative rental practices.

The recent tenancy reform initiatives introduced in Lagos State provide a useful reference point. Similar policies should be considered by other states with major universities, particularly in the South-West, where rental pressures are rapidly increasing.

Third, regulatory authorities must strengthen the oversight of estate agents operating in student communities. Only licensed professionals should be allowed to facilitate rental transactions, and clear ethical standards must be enforced. This will help curb fraudulent practices and protect students from exploitation.

Equally important is the need to address the underlying cost of developing student accommodation. Developers often cite high construction costs, expensive land, rising interest rates and multiple regulatory charges as major barriers to affordable hostel development. The rising prices of building materials, particularly cement and steel, have further increased construction costs.

The government can play a crucial role in reducing these costs by offering targeted incentives for student housing projects. These could include tax reliefs, low-interest financing schemes, access to development land, and streamlined planning approvals for hostel projects located within designated university housing zones.

Universities themselves also have a role to play. Many institutions hold large undeveloped parcels of land that could be allocated for structured hostel development under carefully regulated agreements. By partnering with credible developers, universities can ensure that new accommodations meet safety standards while remaining affordable for students.

The student housing crisis should not be viewed merely as a market issue but as a social and educational concern. When accommodation costs rise beyond the reach of ordinary families, access to higher education becomes increasingly unequal.

The warning issued by NANS, therefore, reflects deeper structural problems within Nigeria’s higher education system. If left unaddressed, the rising cost of student accommodation could discourage talented young Nigerians from pursuing university education or force many to study under extremely difficult conditions.

The government must act decisively to restore balance to the student housing market. Through increased investment, effective regulation and strategic partnerships with the private sector, it is possible to expand accommodation supply while protecting students from exploitative practices.

Ultimately, ensuring that students have access to safe, decent and affordable accommodation is not merely a welfare issue; it is an investment in the future of Nigeria’s education system and the development of its human capital.