Saturday, February 8, 2025

ABU students pay N90 as hostel fees: Spokesman

The university spokesman said the fee has been in place for forty years.

• August 22, 2021
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

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)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Abubakar Kyari

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

IFAD

Agriculture

IFAD graduates 25 rice, cassava farm machine fabricators in Taraba

He charged the beneficiaries not to sell the starter packs but rather to use them to create wealth for themselves. 

Technical Aid Corps (TAC)

NationWide

FG welcomes 15 returning TAC volunteers from Benin Republic

He said that the government was proud of their services to humanity.

Kwara State

States

Kwara begins second ‘Big Catch Up’ vaccination February 11

Ms Shittu said that the meeting was aimed at promoting the second phase of the BCU by reassuring communities of vaccine safety and effectiveness.

Rivers State on map used to illustrate the story

States

Group urges parties, politicians to close ranks over Rivers’ political crisis

Mr Ebogidi urged political actors in the state to close ranks and consider the wellbeing of the people as they played politics.

FRSC

States

Fatality cases in Delta road crashes reduced in 2024, says FRSC

Mr Ogidan urged officers of the FRSC in the state not to be complacent.