The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D has decried rising cost of off-campus accommodation across Southwest Nigeria, saying it has reached an alarming and unsustainable level.
This is contained in a Friday statement jointly signed by Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Josiah Adeyemo (Billion Codes), General Secretary, Comrade Ojetola Babatunde Yussuf (TOYYEM) and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Tope Olugbemi (Celebrity Surveyor).
The student body noted that in many university communities, rent now rivals land in some cases and exceeds tuition fees.
“This troubling reality is steadily transforming access to education into a privilege reserved for the wealthy, as the cost of securing basic shelter spirals beyond the reach of ordinary families,” the student body said.
It further noted that across the region, unregulated rental practices have created an environment ripe for exploitation.
The statement reads, “Landlords and property agents operate with minimal oversight, imposing arbitrary rent increases and demanding multiple years of advance payment.
“These practices place unbearable pressure on students and their families, many of whom are already struggling with rising living expenses.
“Recent assessments indicate that a significant proportion of students now spend nearly half of their available income on rent alone far exceeding the globally accepted housing affordability benchmark of 30 percent.
“In student-dominated areas, the situation is particularly dire. A single room now costs between ₦150,000 and ₦250,000, while self-contained apartments range from ₦350,000 to as high as ₦600,000 in parts of Ondo State. In Ibadan, furnished hostels near the University of Ibadan are reportedly rented for as much as ₦1.3 million annually.”
NANS Southwest explained that these increases were unfolding against the backdrop of Nigeria’s inflation rate, which has climbed to 33.69 percent, further compounding the financial strain on students and their families.
“The consequences of this housing crisis are severe and far-reaching. Many students are being pushed into homelessness and were forced to sleep in lecture halls, live in severely overcrowded apartments, or reside in unsafe and insecure environments.
“Beyond the obvious physical discomfort, this crisis has grave implications for students’ mental health, academic performance, and personal security. No student should ever be forced to choose between safety, dignity, and the pursuit of education,” the statement further reads.
The student leaders strongly condemned these exploitative rental practices and called on the governments and Houses of Assembly in Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, and Ondo states to take urgent and decisive action.
They hailed the “progressive initiative” taken by the Lagos State Government through its 2025 Tenancy Bill which provides a commendable model for reform.
According to NANS Southwest, similar student-sensitive tenancy regulations should be enacted across the Southwest to curb arbitrary rent hikes, prohibit excessive multi-year advance payments, and establish accessible mediation mechanisms for landlord-tenant disputes.
“Furthermore, the leadership of NANS Southwest Zone D hereby declares its intention to formally petition all registered and operating house agents across the Southwest zone.
“These petitions will demand transparency in rental agreements, an immediate end to exploitative multi-year advance payment policies, and the adoption of fair, student-friendly tenancy practices.
“We will also engage relevant regulatory bodies and professional associations overseeing estate agents to ensure compliance with ethical standards and to protect students from systemic exploitation.
“Education must never become a luxury dictated by housing costs. If Nigeria is serious about empowering its youth and securing its future, then affordable, regulated, and student-centered housing must become a top policy priority.
“The time for decisive intervention is now,” the statement reads.
The sun
