The University of Maiduguri is a renowned university in Nigeria, attracting thousands of students from various regions. As the students’ population has grown over the years, the demand for hostel accommodation has significantly increased. However, the availability of hostels has not kept pace with this growth, leading to several issues.
The university struggles to provide enough hostels to accommodate all students on campus. The limited number of hostels often results in overcrowding. To talk more on poor infrastructure, some existing hostels lack basic amenities, including adequate water supply, electricity, and sanitation facilities. This insufficient hostel capacity compromises students’ comfort and convenience.
The persistent accommodation hiccups have several negative consequences on students’ life and academic performance, which also includes mental and emotional stress, health and hygiene.
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Meanwhile, substandard living conditions can pose health risks as students may lack access to clean water, sanitary facilities and a conducive environment for studying and resting.
A hostel resident, Gideon Cefas, of the Department of Agriculture, said the insufficient accommodation, perhaps, is the worst pain students of the institution who either live near or far go through. We have witnessed the way other universities with large student population have structured their hostels and it is quite interesting.
Overall, the accommodation issues faced by students necessitate immediate attention. The university should look into the situation and provide solutions. Providing adequate and quality accommodation is crucial to promoting students’ well-being, academic success and a conducive learning environment. Also, the installation of CCTV cameras, fencing and security personnel should be enhanced to ensure a safe and secure living environment for students.
Patience Andeben wrote from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri
