BREAKING NEWS: UNILAG Students Protest as Private Hostel Rents Jump 40%, Single Rooms Now ₦950,000

Tension erupted at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) today as students stormed the streets in protest over a sharp hike in private hostel rents, with prices soaring by as much as 40 percent.

The sudden increase has seen single rooms climb to an astonishing ₦950,000 per session, a figure that has left many undergraduates and their families reeling under financial pressure.

The protest began early this morning around the university’s main gate, where hundreds of students gathered, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions like “Education is not for the rich alone,” and “Hostel rent no be oil money.”

The atmosphere grew tense as security operatives moved in to disperse the growing crowd, while students insisted they would not back down until their voices were heard.

For many, the outrage stems not just from the new figures but from what the hikes represent in a country already grappling with economic hardship. With the naira in free fall and inflation hitting double digits, parents and guardians who struggled to meet the previous accommodation rates now find themselves facing nearly a million naira in rent—excluding tuition, feeding, and other expenses.

A student leader who addressed the press described the development as “an assault on the right to affordable education,” accusing hostel operators of exploiting the housing crisis around the campus.

Private hostels, often the only option for students unable to secure the limited school-owned accommodations, have long been criticized for exorbitant pricing.

However, this latest increase is unprecedented and has ignited fears of mass displacement, with many students contemplating commuting long distances from cheaper housing in areas like Yaba, Surulere, and even Ikorodu. Some parents have also taken to social media, accusing the government and school authorities of failing to regulate private hostel owners, thereby leaving students at their mercy.

Eyewitnesses said traffic around Akoka and Bariga was heavily disrupted as the protest escalated, with chants echoing across major roads. Police presence was visibly increased, though reports suggest the demonstration has so far remained largely peaceful. Still, the memory of past student protests turning violent in Nigeria hangs in the air, fueling concerns over possible clashes if the situation is not quickly addressed.

The UNILAG administration has yet to release an official statement, but insiders say meetings are ongoing between the university management and hostel operators in a bid to find a compromise. Whether this will result in an immediate reversal of the rent hike remains uncertain, as operators cite rising costs of maintenance, diesel, and building materials as reasons for the steep adjustment.

For now, the students remain defiant, insisting that education in Nigeria should not become the preserve of the wealthy. As one protester put it while holding up his placard: “If we can’t afford to live on campus, how do they expect us to succeed in school?”

With tensions high and negotiations underway, the coming days will determine whether UNILAG’s latest crisis becomes a fleeting uproar or a full-blown confrontation over the future of affordable student housing in Lagos.