The students of Osun State University, Ifetedo Campus have lamented about the lack of electricity and water supply in their hostels in Ifetedo.
Olofofo Uniosun gathered that students residing in the Olubosin Hostel, New Girls Hostel, and Ali Balogun Hostel at the college are affected by the deplorable state of the hostel conditions. They lamented a persistent lack of electricity and water supply, leaving them unable to perform basic activities such as reading, bathing, or cleaning.
Speaking with Olofofo Uniosun, some students said that there have not been any provision of power at the hostels since the beginning of the semester.
“In previous semesters, generators were switched on during the afternoons and at night when electricity from the IBEDC was unavailable. However, this semester, the generators have not been operated even once at night, severely impacting students’ ability to study and prepare for classes.” they said.
Olofofo Uniosun learnt that the lack of electricity has compounded the water scarcity issue, as boreholes in the hostels require electricity to pump water. Students are now forced to fetch water from a single tank, which serves over 100 students, or from nearby wells. Some wells have reportedly dried up, and students have been warned to stop using them. Many students have resorted to attending classes without bathing due to the dire water situation.
Another student said: “We struggle day and night to find water. Sometimes, we can’t even bathe before class because there’s none available.”
Some residents at Ali Balogun Hostel lamented about the poor maintenance and financial burden on them, they disclosed that although they pay a hostel fee of ₦125,000, they are required to contribute the sum of ₦500 every night to fuel a generator provided by the school. Meanwhile, the hostel’s toilets are reportedly in terrible condition, making living standards unsanitary and uncomfortable.
At Olubosin Hostel, students reported that many rooms lack doors or functional locks, leaving their belongings vulnerable to theft. One student added, “We can’t secure our belongings when we leave for class or when we travel for holidays. It’s a constant worry and a student also said there was a day she went for a class and on her arrival back to the hostel, one of her things was stolen”.
The College President, Fagbohun Tijesunimi who spoke with Olofofo Uniosun acknowledged the students’ complaints. He said that the Students’ Union had raised the issues with the Provost and the Director of Works on several occasions.
“The hostel conditions are not hygienic, and students cannot keep living like this,” Fagbohun said. “We were informed that there’s an issue with hiring personnel to operate the generators at night. This is unacceptable as it prevents students from studying at night and accessing water from the boreholes.”
Fagbohun assured that he has been pressuring the Provost and other authorities to address these issues. He noted that the Provost had promised to resolve the electricity issue, which would simultaneously fix the water crisis. Additionally, the College President mentioned that he plans to plead with the community members who have barred students from fetching water from their wells.
On the security concerns about Olubosin Hostel, Fagbohun revealed that the OSUSU president said funds had been disbursed to address these problems. He expressed frustration that repairs had not been carried out. He pledged to escalate the matter and proposed locking the hostels entirely during the holiday as a temporary measure to safeguard students’ belongings.
“While locking the hostel is not a permanent solution, it might provide some security during the December break. However, this approach is not sustainable as students have different travel schedules,” he said.
Fagbohun warned that the ongoing neglect of these issues could lead to unrest on campus. “If nothing is done in the next two to three weeks, we might face a riot, which no one wants. I urge the management to act swiftly.”
Students are calling for immediate intervention from the college management to address the lack of electricity, water, and the deteriorating state of the hostels. With mounting frustration and the threat of potential unrest, urgent action is needed to ensure the well-being and academic success of the students.
