The declaration of a state of emergency on the deplorable condition of students’ hostels by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has, once again, drawn national attention to one of the most neglected aspects of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

Across federal and state universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, thousands of students reside in hostels that have become symbols of institutional decay rather than centres of learning. Leaking roofs, overcrowded rooms, broken toilets, poor water supply, inadequate electricity, poor waste management and weak security have become the norm in many institutions. These conditions undermine students’ health, safety, dignity and academic performance.

While NANS’ alarm could not have come at a better time, declarations alone will not solve a problem that has accumulated over decades. What is required is sincere collaboration among all stakeholders, backed by accountability, transparency and sustained investment in maintenance. Nigeria cannot claim to be building a knowledge-driven economy while expecting students to learn and thrive in environments unfit for decent human habitation.

One of the greatest failures in the management of tertiary institutions is the poor maintenance culture. Many hostels that were structurally sound when built have deteriorated because routine maintenance was ignored until rehabilitation became extremely expensive. Broken plumbing, damaged roofs, faulty electrical installations and blocked drainage systems are often left unattended for years. Rather than adopting preventive maintenance, authorities wait until facilities become completely unusable before seeking intervention funds. This cycle is both wasteful and irresponsible.

Equally disturbing is the racketeering associated with hostel allocation in many institutions. Students have repeatedly alleged that hostel spaces are often hijacked by unscrupulous officials, student leaders and middlemen who demand illegal payments before allocating rooms. In some institutions, deserving students are denied accommodation while rooms are reserved for those willing to pay unofficial fees. Such corruption not only undermines fairness but also forces many students into expensive and often unsafe off-campus accommodation.

The Federal Ministry of Education cannot remain a distant observer. Although universities enjoy a measure of autonomy, the ministry has a constitutional responsibility to formulate policies, monitor standards and ensure that public institutions provide a conducive learning environment.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, should lead a nationwide audit of hostel infrastructure across federal tertiary institutions and work with state governments to encourage similar assessments in state-owned institutions. Such an audit should identify infrastructure gaps, establish maintenance priorities and provide a realistic funding framework for rehabilitation.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has continued to support infrastructure development in higher institutions. However, more emphasis should be placed on maintenance and rehabilitation rather than the endless construction of new buildings while existing facilities collapse. Every institution should be required to establish a professionally managed maintenance unit with clear performance targets and dedicated funding.

The responsibility also rests squarely on university administrators. Vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, governing councils and pro-chancellors must treat hostel conditions as a strategic governance issue rather than a routine administrative inconvenience. The quality of accommodation reflects the quality of institutional leadership. Governing councils should insist on annual reports on hostel maintenance, occupancy levels, safety standards and expenditure. Transparent procurement processes and periodic facility inspections should become mandatory.

Private sector participation through carefully structured public-private partnerships may also provide part of the solution. However, such arrangements must be properly regulated to prevent excessive accommodation charges that place additional financial burdens on students already struggling with rising tuition-related expenses and inflation.

The students’ body NANS, too, has an important responsibility. It should remain an independent advocate for students’ welfare rather than allowing itself to become a political platform or an extension of government or partisan interests. Its credibility depends on its willingness to speak truth to power irrespective of which administration is in office. Student leaders should focus on evidence-based advocacy, expose corruption wherever it exists including hostel allocation rackets and work constructively with authorities to find lasting solutions.

The association must equally demonstrate honesty and integrity in its engagements. It cannot condemn corruption within university administrations while tolerating similar practices among student leaders. If NANS is to regain and sustain the confidence of Nigerian students, it must be transparent, accountable and committed solely to protecting students’ interests.

Students also have responsibilities. Hostel facilities are public assets that should be used responsibly. Acts of vandalism, theft of electrical fittings, indiscriminate waste disposal and poor sanitation contribute significantly to the rapid deterioration of facilities. Institutions should strengthen student participation in hostel management and promote a culture of shared responsibility for maintaining public property.

Ultimately, improving hostel conditions is not merely about providing accommodation. It is about protecting lives, promoting academic excellence and preserving human dignity. Students who live in overcrowded, unhealthy and insecure environments cannot be expected to perform at their best. The quality of a nation’s higher education system is measured not only by its lecture halls and laboratories but also by the conditions under which its students live.

The emergency declared by NANS should therefore serve as a catalyst for concrete action rather than another headline that fades with the news cycle. The Federal Ministry of Education, state governments, vice-chancellors, rectors, governing councils, pro-chancellors, TETFund, development partners and student leaders must collectively address this longstanding crisis. Nigeria’s tertiary institutions should produce graduates prepared to compete globally, not survivors of neglect and institutional decay. A nation that invests in decent student accommodation invests in its future.