The Delta State Executive Council has approved the construction of new hostel blocks at state-owned tertiary institutions. This move responds to growing concerns about a severe accommodation crisis. The crisis currently affects tens of thousands of students.
The decision was announced after the council meeting chaired by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. It comes amid reports that over 40,000 students in the state’s higher education system are struggling to find on-campus accommodation.
The Depth of the Accommodation Crisis
In a briefing with journalists after the meeting, Commissioner for Higher Education, Nyerhovwo Tonukari, stated that the approval includes the construction of separate male and female hostel blocks in each of the nine state-owned tertiary institutions. Tonukari described the initiative as a vital intervention. He highlighted that the rapid increase in student enrolment has significantly outstripped available accommodation facilities.
According to him, the figures presented during recent convocation ceremonies at three of the state’s newly established universities indicated that these institutions currently host about 40,000 students. He added that the situation is particularly difficult at Delta State University, Abraka. It has more than 35,000 students but hostel facilities that can accommodate only around 2,000 students.
“The newer universities have even fewer hostel spaces, in some cases only a few hundred beds, which makes the accommodation challenge even more severe,” Tonukari said.
This infrastructure gap has forced many students into expensive off-campus housing. Such housing is often located far from campus and lacks adequate security. For context, students in Abraka have recently lamented the soaring cost of living. Rent for a single room in some areas has doubled, reaching as high as N200,000 in the past year. Students report skipping meals and struggling to concentrate on their studies due to the financial strain.
Analysts say the pressure created by the rising student population has also fueled the proliferation of poorly regulated private hostels around university communities. This raises concerns about safety, cost and welfare of students.
Tonukari said the newly approved hostel projects form part of the administration’s effort to ease the accommodation deficit. They also aim to create a more conducive learning environment across the institutions. The government had previously hinted at these plans. The Vice Chancellor of DELSU mentioned exploring funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria and TETFUND for similar projects.
Reviving a Long-Stalled Project
In a related development, the council also approved the reconstruction and completion of the abandoned Senate Building project at DELSU, Abraka. The project, originally awarded in 2010, had remained stalled for over a decade before the latest intervention by the state government.
“Today, that building has been approved for reconstruction and completion, which is very good news for the university,” Tonukari said.
This approval is part of a broader financial commitment to education. The government has previously stated that the budget for higher education now exceeds N100 billion. This fund is meant for infrastructure, staff recruitment, and improved access. Nearly 1,000 academic and non-academic staff have already been recruited to support the growing student population, which has risen from 55,000 to over 100,000 under the current administration.
Supervision and Delivery Promised
Also speaking, Commissioner for Housing, Godknows Angele, assured that the Ministry of Housing would closely supervise the projects. This is to ensure they are delivered on schedule and in line with approved specifications.
He said the ministry would work to guarantee efficient execution and timely completion. This assurance aims to prevent the kind of delays that plagued the DELSU Senate Building project for over a decade.