Uniben Students, Parents Raise Alarm Over Alleged Hostel Allocation Racketeering
STUDENTS and parents of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, have accused key officials in the university of manipulating the ongoing hostel allocation process, alleging large-scale racketeering and extortion.
They are calling on the Minister of Education and other relevant authorities to intervene, describing the situation as exploitative, especially amid Nigeria’s current economic hardship and recent increases in tuition fees.
Students Lament Unfair Hostel Practices
According to multiple student and parent accounts, many students who completed all necessary payments are yet to be allocated hostels. Meanwhile, some individuals who secured spaces are allegedly reselling them on student WhatsApp groups for between ₦65,000 and ₦80,000, even though the official rate on the university portal is ₦18,000.
One student, identified as Zee (not real name), said the situation is worse for “reserved hostels” such as NDDC, Keystone Bank, Intercontinental, and Festus Akingbola Halls. These hostels, which officially cost between ₦36,000 and ₦76,000, are reportedly being resold for as high as ₦250,000 through middlemen allegedly linked to university staff and students.
“These agents claim to have connections with staff members involved in hostel allocation. They demand huge sums from desperate students who prefer the reserved hostels because of better facilities,” she said.
Claims of Collusion and Extortion
Another student, Dee (not real name), alleged that the “illicit hostel market” has existed for years but worsened under the current Dean of Students Affairs. He described the process as corrupt, especially for reserved hostels, which he claimed are now controlled by a small network of insiders.
“Hostel booking is supposed to be transparent — students log into their portal, pay ₦1,000 booking fee, and select available spaces. But now, only those who pay bribes or know people inside get allocations,” he said.
Parents Express Frustration
A parent, Mr. Don (not real name), recounted losing money to an agent while trying to secure a better hostel for his son after health challenges linked to poor hygiene in the previous session.
“It’s heartbreaking. My son fell sick due to the terrible state of the toilets and bathrooms. Some hostels have six to eight students squeezed into rooms designed for two or four,” he lamented.
Poor Sanitation Fuelling the Problem
Findings by News Crackers reveal that poor sanitary conditions in some hostels have made students desperate for better accommodation. In several halls, as many as 80 students share just five toilets and bathrooms, forcing some to bathe outdoors at dawn or resort to the unhygienic practice known as “short put.”
Students said the university’s official notice on hostel allocation directs applicants to use an activation code through their portal, while those seeking reserved hostels must submit receipts to the Dean’s office for manual approval — a process many say has become opaque and compromised.
Calls for Urgent Intervention
Stakeholders have urged the university management and the Federal Ministry of Education to investigate the alleged racketeering and restore transparency to the hostel allocation process.
They insist that without urgent reform, students will continue to suffer while a few individuals enrich themselves at their expense.
CREDIT: LightRay Media
