Students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) staged protests on campus after private hostel owners raised rents by roughly 40%, a move that has pushed the cost of single rooms to as high as ₦950,000 per academic session, according to a social-media report shared by Nigeria Stories.
The demonstrations, organised by aggrieved students, highlighted widespread anger at what many described as an abrupt and unaffordable spike in accommodation costs. Protesters told onlookers and bystanders that the new rates place severe strain on students and their families, forcing some to consider pausing studies or seeking cheaper but less secure alternatives off-campus.
Students and observers attribute the increases to a combination of rising operating costs for landlords, heightened demand for limited student housing, and broader inflationary pressures affecting rents across the city. Many UNILAG undergraduates already depend on private hostels because campus accommodation cannot meet total demand, making them vulnerable to market-driven price changes.
The university administration had no immediate public statement at the time of reporting. Student leaders are pushing for urgent intervention from UNILAG management, the Lagos State Government and relevant housing regulators to protect students from sudden, large-scale rent hikes. Suggested measures include temporary rent caps for student housing, increased investment in campus accommodation, and formal mediation between landlords and student representatives.
Analysts say the dispute exposes a longer-term housing challenge for Nigerian universities: without a coordinated response — both in expanding affordable campus housing and in regulating private hostel markets near schools — students will continue to shoulder disproportionate costs that undermine access to higher education.
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