By Zainab Bakare
In the 2024/2025 academic session, one issue that has been prevalent regarding hostel accommodation is the changing of bed spaces. Several students have complained about their allocated spaces being cancelled and subsequently changed to a “new” one.
A final-year student, in an interview with the ACJ UNIBEN, narrated how she booked a hostel and was allocated Corner A, a final-year bed space, which she paid for before the 48-hour payment deadline elapsed. She complained bitterly about how the bed space she first got was cancelled weeks after she made the payment. Upon complaining to the Students’ Affairs Division, she was reallocated to Corner D.
“This is very painful. How would my bed space be changed weeks after I have made payments? I even made the payments on time. What is the valid reason?” she lamented.
Another 200-level student complained that he was allocated another student’s space. He confirmed that the space he was given had initially been assigned to another student, who was later reallocated elsewhere. He lamented that the original occupant has refused to leave despite the change reflecting in his (the student’s) Kofa account.
“I am tired. I don’t know if they can give me another space in Hall 5. I don’t want trouble,” he said.
Another student also lamented that his bed space was occupied and cleared by another student when he arrived at his hostel. Despite lodging complaints and receiving promises of reallocation, he is yet to be assigned another bed space.
These incidents have sparked concern and confusion within the student community, raising several questions about the irregularities: Who are the staff members behind this? Are these incidents intentional acts, or are they just honest mistakes?
The Dean of Students, in a memo released on March 10, 2025, addressed the issue. He acknowledged the irregularities in hostel space allocation, stating that the attention of the university management had been drawn to accommodation racketeering by staff and students. Condemning these illegal and unethical practices, he maintained that such acts are prohibited and will attract severe punishment for students and staff involved.
“For the avoidance of doubts, accommodation racketeering remains prohibited. Any staff or student involved in the malpractice would be cited for violation of the university regulation and shall be severely disciplined.
Such culprits risk either being expelled from the university (in the case of students) or dismissed from the university service (in the case of staff).”
Despite this development, the issue has left affected students frustrated and confused. It is advised that the management take adequate action by conducting further investigations to identify the culprits, and that the Students’ Affairs Division endeavours to reinstate the spaces of the affected students.
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