The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared a national emergency over the worsening condition of students’ hostels in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.
The new NANS President, Babatunde Akinteye, made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the 2026 National Executive Council, warning that the persistent neglect of accommodation facilities threatens students’ welfare, safety, and dignity.
Describing the situation as “pathetically disheartening,” Akinteye said many hostels have become uninhabitable due to years of neglect, forcing students to live in environments plagued by poor sanitation, inadequate facilities, and various hazards.
“Many hostels are in deplorable and dilapidated conditions, and they continue to deteriorate with little or no attention from the relevant authorities. These conditions are not befitting of institutions of higher learning,” he stated.
“Consequently, I hereby declare a state of emergency on students’ hostels across tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The welfare, safety and dignity of Nigerian students can no longer be compromised.”
Akinteye pledged that his leadership would prioritise students’ welfare, engage relevant authorities to resolve the accommodation crisis, and pursue broader goals under what he termed the “Epoch Agenda” for Nigerian students. He promised not to betray the trust reposed in him by the student body.
Government ResponsePresident Bola Tinubu, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon, urged the new NANS leadership to adopt constructive engagement with the government to advance education sector reforms.
He commended NANS for exposing alleged diversion of Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) resources and highlighted ongoing government efforts to improve access and quality in education.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, also called for continued collaboration, unity, and focus on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship among students.
The poor state of hostels remains a long-standing issue in many public tertiary institutions, with students often facing overcrowded rooms, leaking roofs, erratic power and water supply, and poor sanitation. Many are forced into expensive and sometimes insecure off-campus housing.
While interventions by TETFUND and public-private partnerships have led to some rehabilitations, student leaders argue these are insufficient relative to rising enrolments.
NANS’ declaration signals renewed pressure on authorities to address infrastructure deficits in higher education institutions.
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