Inside Uniben Hostel Allocation Deals
THE relevant authority at University of Benin (UNIBEN) is at it again. The hostel allocation process which can be likened to one of those Italian Mafia drug cartels has once again proven to be highly commercialized.
The man at the heart of it all is Professor Clement Atewe Ighodaro, the Dean of Students Affairs. As each session begins, hostel prices skyrocket, benefiting a select few while leaving students struggling to secure decent accommodation. With students groaning, the black market for hostel spaces thriving, and the federal government yet to act, despite news reports last year, drawing attention to the malaise, the future of hostel allocation at Uniben remains uncertain.
Bolstered by these concerns, UNIBEN students are again calling for urgent intervention from the the new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Omoregie, Minister of Education, the Visitor to the university and other relevant authorities as accusations of hostel accommodation racketeering and scams spread throughout the University located in Benin City, Edo State.
According to multiple sources, claims suggest that some key figures within the university, including those in positions of power, are directly benefiting from the exploitative system.
With the new hostel fee hike compounding the already existing economic hardships faced by students and parents alike, those affected are voicing their frustrations. Some parents have raised alarms, stating that the manipulation in the hostel allocation process has turned into a profitable business, enriching a few at the expense of students who have already paid the required fees.
A recurring sessional concern, the issue intensifies at the beginning of each academic year as prices soar to new heights. This year, reports indicate that some hostel spaces were already sold out even before the official allocation process began on March 15. Sources claim these spaces were reserved for the highest bidders, many of whom later resell to desperate students seeking a little more comfort —especially as a means to escape the overcrowded, bedbug-infested, and poorly maintained cheaper hostels.
A number of students and parents, speaking to our correspondent in Benin, revealed that while students have paid for hostel accommodationbookings, a non refundable fee of one thousand naira previously and now two thousand naira as some paid, and applied through the university’s official portal, proper allocation becomes an excruciating struggle such that those who are “lucky” to get allocated openly celebrate it.
While majority of students who get these allocation do so after being compelled by the consequences of failure to do so and get a roof over their head for the session as exacerbated by members of the cartel, to pay ranging from 50 thousand naira to one hundred and fifty thousand naira upfront, depending on the type of hostel, many of them actually sell these off to more desperate students at between one hundred to 500 thousand naira to others who couldn’t get through the proper official channel but desire to live in the halls of residence. The market space where these trading goes on is within the various student WhatsApp groups and agents of the Dean of Students which include ICT staff, students, workers of various departments of the university etc. Last session, the inflated prices ranged from N65,000 to N80,000 – far higher than the actual cost of N18,000 official fee for the regular hostels. The situation is worse for “reserved” hostels which include NDDC, Keystone Bank, and Intercontinental, where prices were escalated to between N250,000 and N350,000, despite the official costs being much lower.
One student who craved anonymity revealed that the phenomenon has been a persistent issue for years, since she was admitted into the university four sessions back but learnt that it has worsened since the current Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Ighodaro, assumed office. She explained that at the start of each academic year, students are informed through official channels about the hostel booking process. Despite following the outlined procedures, students who do not have strong connections or can’t afford the extra costs imposed by agents face significant barriers in securing accommodation.
The situation, according to another student has turned the hostel allocation into a lucrative business for those in charge. Agents, often linked to staff in the Dean of Students Affairs office, University ICT, students and other agents within and outside the university charge exorbitant amounts to students in desperate need of reserved hostels. These agents manipulate the system, ensuring that only students willing to pay large sums -sometimes as much as N250,000 – gain access to these preferred accommodations.
Further investigation into the issue revealed how these irregularities have become widespread. Despite clear guidelines on the university’s portal for how students can book hostel spaces, including for the reserved hostels, agents remain a major force in determining who gets allocation. This system, many believe, has left the average student disadvantaged, especially those who cannot afford to pay inflated fees or do not have connections within the administration.
Parents have also expressed concerns over the lack of hygiene in the general halls of residence, with reports of overcrowding and poorly maintained toilet facilities. Some parents who shared their painful experiences, noted how their children have had to contend with what they described as the worst eyesore of the sanitary conditions, leading to diseases and discomfort, including bed bugs infestation. The overcrowded rooms, where up to eight students share a small space, have left many students with no choice but to seek off-campus accomodations, despite the risks involved.
One key issue fueling the demand for reserved hostels is the poor condition of the other halls of residence. Overcrowding, lack of sanitation, and deteriorating facilities have made it unbearable for many students. The newer hostels, like the Tetfund A, B, C, and D, which used to accommodate four students in a room, even last session now increased their capacity, with rooms now housing up to eight students, despite the high fees of N150,000 per session.
As against the above rates for hostel spaces in previous sessions, data obtained from the university’s student portal, popularly known as Kofa, showed a significant increase in hostel fees for the current academic session. The new rates are as follows:
NDDC Hostel – N60,000
Hall 5 – N46,000
Hall 6 – N73,000
Other Hostels (Hall 1, 2, 3, and 4) – N31,000
Festus Akingbola (2 per room, 2nd Floor) – N100,000
Akingbola (4 per room, Top Bunk) – N46,000
Akingbola (4 per room, Down Bunk) – N71,000
Intercontinental Hostel – N100,000
PG Hostel Ekenwan – N82,000
Clinical Hostel – N37,000
Hall 7 – N116,000
Keystone Hostel – N116,000
Tetfund Hostels (A, B, C, D), Sen. Danjuma, Sen. Danjuma Legacy, and NNPC Male Hostels – N150,000
The sudden surge in hostel fees has sparked even more controversy, as students struggle to keep up with both the rising cost of education and the increasing cost of on-campus accommodation. Many students argue that despite these hikes, the quality of hostel facilities remains poor, with overcrowding and sanitation issues still rampant.
Contacted for his comments, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Clement Atewe Ighodalo did not respond to messages and reminder sent to his WhatsApp line on Thursday March 13 and Monday March 27 respectively as at the time of filing this report.
