Oborevwori Administration Moves To Ease Student Housing Crisis In Delta Schools

Delta Approves Major Student Housing Initiative

THE Delta State Government has approved the construction of male and female hostels across nine state-owned tertiary institutions, a move aimed at addressing the growing accommodation shortage faced by students.

The development was announced by the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Nyerhovwo Tonukari, while briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

Tonukari described the approval as a major step toward improving the welfare of students and easing the burden faced by parents struggling to secure off-campus housing for their children.

According to him, the rising population in Delta’s tertiary institutions has significantly increased demand for accommodation within campuses.

Growing Student Population Strains Infrastructure

The commissioner noted that recent figures presented during convocation ceremonies of three newly established universities in the state indicate that the institutions currently have about 40,000 students combined.

This surge in enrollment, he said, has intensified pressure on already limited hostel facilities.

At Delta State University in Abraka, the situation is particularly pronounced.

Tonukari revealed that although the university currently has more than 35,000 students, its hostel facilities can only accommodate around 2,000 students.

The newer universities, he added, face an even more severe shortage, with hostel capacity available for only a few hundred students.

“This clearly shows the urgent need for more accommodation within our institutions,” he said.

Two Hostels for Each Institution

To tackle the challenge, the State Executive Council approved the construction of two hostel blocks in each of the nine tertiary institutions.

The project will include one hostel for male students and one for female students, designed to increase campus housing capacity and reduce the need for students to seek accommodation outside school premises.

Tonukari said the initiative forms part of the broader agenda of the Oborevwori administration to strengthen infrastructure in the education sector and create a more conducive learning environment.

He added that improved accommodation would enhance student welfare, safety and academic productivity.

Completion of DELSU Senate Building

In addition to the hostel projects, the government also approved the reconstruction and completion of the Senate Building at Delta State University.

The building project, located at the university’s main campus in Abraka, was originally awarded in 2010 but remained abandoned for several years.

Tonukari described the approval to resume the project as a significant development for the university community.

“Today, that building has been approved for reconstruction and completion, which is very good news for the university,” he said.

The Senate Building is expected to house administrative offices and serve as a central facility for the institution’s academic leadership.

Housing Ministry to Supervise Projects

Also speaking after the council meeting, the State Commissioner for Housing, Godknows Angele, assured that the Ministry of Housing would closely monitor the implementation of the projects.

He said the ministry would ensure that contractors adhere to construction standards and deliver the projects within the approved timelines.

“We will ensure effective supervision so that the projects are executed efficiently and delivered on schedule,” Angele said.

Strengthening Educational Infrastructure

The approvals form part of the state government’s broader strategy to expand infrastructure across key sectors, particularly education.

Observers say the hostel initiative could significantly ease the housing pressure faced by students in Delta’s public tertiary institutions, many of whom currently rely on expensive and sometimes unsafe off-campus accommodation.

Education stakeholders have long called for increased investment in student housing as enrollment continues to rise.

With the latest approvals, the state government says it hopes to create a more supportive academic environment and improve the overall experience for students studying in Delta’s institutions.