Tanko Ishaya, the vice-chancellor of the University of Jos, has decried the paucity of hostel accommodation for its students within the campus.

Mr Ishaya spoke when members of the 1998 set of the university’s faculty of law visited him on Saturday in Jos.

The VC noted that the university currently has over 45,000 students, and it was unfortunate that most of them find it difficult to have access to hostel accommodation.

”As we speak, only seven per cent of our students live within the campus against the global standard of 40 per cent.

”This is due to a shortage of hostel accommodation; so over 90 per cent of students live off campus.

”We are making efforts to address this concern through public-private partnership,” he said.

The vice-chancellor also said the university’s electricity bill had skyrocketed to over N80 million per month.

He, however, said efforts were also in place to develop a solar farm to generate power that would serve the institution and its host community.

Mr Tanko told the former law students that the university was currently running 78 fully accredited academic programmes in 17 faculties.

Speaking, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, a member of the class, promised continued support towards the progress of the institution.

Mr Mutfwang, represented by Rauta Dakok, the immediate past head of service of the state, also thanked the management of the university for sustaining higher academic standards.

(NAN)