Education
UNN Medical Students Protest Sharp Hostel Fee Hikes
UNN medical students stage protest over sharp hostel fee hikes, overcrowding, and unfair levies amid lack of university response
Medical and surgery students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) staged a protest on Wednesday over a 100 percent increase in hostel fees, coupled with additional charges described as unfair and burdensome.
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The unrest followed a circular issued on Monday by Aaron Agbo, Director of the university’s Accommodation and Housing Directorate, which made payment of the 2025/2026 consolidated service charges a prerequisite for accessing hostel bed spaces.
The circular specified that the bed space portal in Nnamdi Azikiwe, Imoke, NUGA, and UNIMA hostels would open at 10 a.m. on 18 February, with allocation limited to 400, 500, and 600-level students on a first-come, first-served basis.
Accommodation was segregated by gender, with female students assigned to UNIMA and Imoke hostels, and male students to Nnamdi Azikiwe and NUGA hostels.
Agbo warned that any unauthorised sale or transfer of bed spaces would attract sanctions under university rules.
The announcement sparked immediate backlash.
Students accused the university management of pressuring them into instant payments without addressing longstanding grievances.
On X, the medical students’ association alleged tuition fees had risen by 100 percent, hostel fees by 150 percent, and a ₦60,000 development levy was imposed.
Final-year students reportedly face an additional “seventh-year fee” before accessing hostels.
Gentle Jemmy, a student, attributed the protest to enduring hardships caused by the multi-campus medical programme, with first-year students at Nsukka, second- and third-year students at UNEC, fourth-year students at the old site, and fifth- and sixth-year students at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH).
Jemmy criticised overcrowding, alleging hostels intended for two classes now house four, and disputed fees for non-existent years for hostel access at UNTH.
Another student, Naza, described the hostels as “rat- and snake-infested, with no water or steady light,” and called for urgent improvements to ensure safe and conducive learning environments.
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As of reporting, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka management had not issued an official response, and attempts to reach the university spokesperson were unsuccessful.
Governor Dauda Lawal has distributed official vehicles to higher institutions to strengthen the capacity, efficiency, and effectiveness of Zamfara State’s education system.
The distribution of the official vehicles was held on Friday at the Government House in Gusau, the state capital.
A statement by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the vehicles are institutional assets and operational tools to support administration, supervision, accreditation, official engagements, and other legitimate responsibilities of the benefiting institutions.
The statement noted that institutions and offices allocated brand-new vehicles are Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara, and Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara.
Other beneficiaries are the College of Nursing & Midwifery, Gusau; the Teachers Service Board; the Senior Secondary School Board; Quality Assurance; ZACAS; and other State Government Public Institutions.
In his remarks, Governor Lawal reiterated that the initiative will increase the productivity of Zamfara State public office holders by providing reliable transportation, enabling them to deliver services more effectively and quickly.
He said, “It is important to emphasise that these vehicles are not personal entitlements for any office holder. They remain the property of the Zamfara State Government and must be used responsibly and strictly for official purposes.
“I expect institutions to be responsible for custody, deployment, maintenance, and documentation. Heads will be accountable for misuse, unauthorised use, or unnecessary deterioration of assets.
“As the government invests in education, we must foster a culture of maintenance and accountability. Public assets should provide value throughout their life. We must commit to higher standards of service, emphasising transparency and accountability.
“Our administration will continue to provide the infrastructure, equipment, and institutional support needed to improve higher education in Zamfara State. In return, we expect responsible leadership, prudent management, and measurable improvements in academic and administrative performance.”
Governor Lawal further congratulated the benefiting institutions and urged them to ensure that the vehicles serve the institutions, students, and the people of Zamfara State rather than individual interests.
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