PHOTOS: The decayed infrastructure serving as UNN hostels
The University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) male hostels in its Nsukka campus need urgent interventions — unless there are plans to consolidate them as prisons.
The hostels — which are just two — are a definition of filth and neglect; from decayed infrastructure gradually giving way for collapse, to rooms overflowing with students, the facilities are unhealthy for the thousands occupying them.
For a school that brags as Nigeria’s first indigenous university — established since 1960 — one would expect the institution to live up to its name. But, sadly, abysmal sanitation, overcrowded rooms, poor electrification, inadequate shower and toilet facilities are all valid concerns in the campus.
While there are just two hostels housing the male students (one was shut down after it was declared unfit for residence), that of the ladies are about eight, most of them in good conditions.
However, even with the pressure now on the two remaining male hostels — rooms meant for six students in most cases end up with eight or more — the school management, it was discovered, are going at a snail’s pace to find alternative solutions for students.
In the end, majority of the students end up staying off campus while those who cannot afford the cost are left to fight for the limited resources in the hostels; particularly space, water and light.
TheCable reached out to Okwun Omeaku, the school’s public relations officer, to speak on the issue and while he said he could not speak from where he is, he is yet to respond to the text message sent to his number.
The pictures (below) taken when TheCable recently visited the male hostels, will leave you in shock:
No jokes: This is exactly how the rooms in the hostels look like
Survival of the fittest: A student is seen lifting a water tank desperately in search of water
In Eni Njoku hostel; corridors like these are a common sight in the hostels
The frontage of Eni Njoku
One of the routes linking Eni Njoku to Alvan hostel
Unity premises of Alvan hostel
Filth unrivalled: Right beside Eni Njoku — yes, the rooms you are seeing are occupied
Bushes taking over the hostel premises
A ‘sneak peek’ of what the hostel toilets look like
Manageable yeah?
Front view of Eni Njoku hostel
Eni Njoku begging for a face-lift
Inside Eni Njoku
As seen in Alvan
Yes, it is that bad: Alvan
There are also no lines to spread clothes — just any space you find.
Unbelievable!! I can’t see how a product of this school/system can possibly contribute to national building. They recieve nothing and therefore have nothing to offer. What a shame
That place is hell! I better start searching for lodges now.
Ewww this place is disgusting
Even face me I slap you is better than this
This is highly disgusting. The school management should give the hostel a face lift.How can student learn in this kind environment. I can see why they are always committing suicide
This is unbelievable. Am in shock. I resided in Eni Njoku hostel in UNN in the early 1980’s and the place was already in bad shape at the time. That these hostels have been left in such state of dilapidation is a sad commentary on our maintenance culture.
They used to have Hall Visitors who were from the Faculty, who normally would come around to inspect Students accommodation periodically. What’s happened to that arrangement?
Does the Vice Chancellor not go around to check on the state of Students lodgings or has he been busy constructing one or two toilets costing tens of millions of Naira?
Indeed it is a deplorable condition students live in there in UNN, especially the male Hostels. I can attest to the fact because I lived in those two hostels while I UNN. It was a total adaptation to living for me. What makes it worse is that the university administration don’t care at all! They feel male students don’t have a right to be cared for at all. You can then imagine why students graduating from the institution hardly ever have any good news to say about her.