Cost Of Hostel Bed Space Still N90 After 40 Years, Says ABU

Auwalu Umar, spokesman for Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, says
students of the institution pay N90 per bed-space in the hostels, a
fee that has remained fixed since 40 years ago.

Mr Umar said in spite of the ridiculously low amount being
charged, the institution was able to provide hostel to 35 per cent
of its over 55,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.

He said that as part of efforts to complement the efforts of the
institution, a private firm, BUA Group, and the Tertiary Education
Trust Fund (TETFund), had assisted in constructing additional
hostels in the university.

But Abubakar-Sadeeq Ali, President, Students Representative
Council (SRC), said though N90 was the fee charged for bed-space,
there was another N7,000, being charged for ‘hostel
maintenance’.

A female undergraduate student who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said most of the rooms were always congested.

The student, who resides at Suleiman Hall within the main
campus, said a room of four students hosted up to eight people.

“A room meant for two students hosts about five people, while a
room meant for eight students accommodates between 12 and 13
people,” she added.

According to her, some students sub-let their bed-spaces,
charging between N15,000 and N35,000, depending on the room and the
hall.

Meanwhile, the private sector is giving a helping hand in the
construction of hostels to complement the effort of the management
of the institution.

One of such is owned by a non-governmental organization, ‘Near
Foundation’. (NAN)

Auwalu Umar, spokesman for Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, says
students of the institution pay N90 per bed-space in the hostels, a
fee that has remained fixed since 40 years ago.

Mr Umar said in spite of the ridiculously low amount being
charged, the institution was able to provide hostel to 35 per cent
of its over 55,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.

He said that as part of efforts to complement the efforts of the
institution, a private firm, BUA Group, and the Tertiary Education
Trust Fund (TETFund), had assisted in constructing additional
hostels in the university.

But Abubakar-Sadeeq Ali, President, Students Representative
Council (SRC), said though N90 was the fee charged for bed-space,
there was another N7,000, being charged for ‘hostel
maintenance’.

A female undergraduate student who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said most of the rooms were always congested.

The student, who resides at Suleiman Hall within the main
campus, said a room of four students hosted up to eight people.

“A room meant for two students hosts about five people, while a
room meant for eight students accommodates between 12 and 13
people,” she added.

According to her, some students sub-let their bed-spaces,
charging between N15,000 and N35,000, depending on the room and the
hall.

Meanwhile, the private sector is giving a helping hand in the
construction of hostels to complement the effort of the management
of the institution.

One of such is owned by a non-governmental organization, ‘Near
Foundation’. (NAN)