FG Delays Hostel Renovation, Forces UNILAG Students To Stay Off Campus

Thousands of University of Lagos (UNILAG) students have been forced to stay off campus and attend lectures online due to the Federal Government’s delay in releasing funds for hostel renovation.

Dtruth Insights observed that the renovation, which was initially expected to be completed by December 2024, has been pushed forward to March 2025, leaving students without accommodation on campus.

The medium also gathered that only three hostels have been renovated so far, and the slow progress is attributed to the intermittent release of funds from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

However, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Professor Musa Obalola, noted that the renovation of the hostels will be complete by March 2025.

According to him, “We initially hoped to complete the renovations by December, but the pace of fund disbursement from Abuja made that impossible,”

“While three hostels are near completion, allocating them would cause chaos due to inadequate space. We aim to have all hostels ready by March for proper allocation.”

When asked about the adjustment of hostel fees, Obalola noted that the fees would be reduced since students would only occupy the hostels for a semester.

While speaking with UNILAG Sun, the Vice-Chancellor of the institutio, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola explained that the delays were caused by the intermittent release of funds from the federal government.

“We decided on a total renovation of all hostels to address their appalling condition.

“Unfortunately, government funds didn’t arrive as planned. The inflationary spiral forced us to act quickly when funds finally arrived, prioritizing long-term improvements over short-term convenience,” Ogunsola said.

She added that while the decision to renovate during the academic session inconvenienced students, it was necessary for meaningful and lasting upgrades.

As a result of all these, the university has transitioned to online classes, with lectures being held virtually using the university’s virtual learning platform.

Students of the institution have been advised to ensure they have stable internet connections and suitable devices for seamless virtual classes.

Currently, only students in private hostels are residing on campus, with some accommodations costing as high as N800,000 per annum for a single-room apartment. The university’s decision to renovate the hostels during the academic session has caused inconvenience to students, but the management believes it is necessary for meaningful and lasting upgrades.