Auwalu Umar, spokesman for Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, says students of the institution pay N90 per bed-space in the hostels, a fee that has remained fixed since 40 years ago.

Mr Umar said in spite of the ridiculously low amount being charged, the institution was able to provide hostel to 35 per cent of its over 55,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.

He said that as part of efforts to complement the efforts of the institution, a private firm, BUA Group, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), had assisted in constructing additional hostels in the university.

But Abubakar-Sadeeq Ali, President, Students Representative Council (SRC), said though N90 was the fee charged for bed-space, there was another N7,000, being charged for ‘hostel maintenance’.

A female undergraduate student who spoke on condition of anonymity, said most of the rooms were always congested.

The student, who resides at Suleiman Hall within the main campus, said a room of four students hosted up to eight people.

“A room meant for two students hosts about five people, while a room meant for eight students accommodates between 12 and 13 people,” she added.

According to her, some students sub-let their bed-spaces, charging between N15,000 and N35,000, depending on the room and the hall.

Meanwhile, the private sector is giving a helping hand in the construction of hostels to complement the effort of the management of the institution.

One of such is owned by a non-governmental organization, ‘Near Foundation’.

(NAN)