BY AMOS WILLIAMS PETER, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 | 09:58 PM

For many students at the University of Maiduguri, choosing where to live has become a choice between difficult hostel conditions and the rising cost of renting off campus.

University hostels offer students easy access to lecture halls and can reduce transportation costs, but some students say overcrowding, poor sanitation, limited water supply and lack of privacy have pushed them to seek housing outside the campus.

Grace Misimadji Simeon, a Mass Communication student, said privacy and personal space were major reasons she chose to live off campus.

‘I choose to stay off campus because I love my privacy and space,’ Grace said.

She also complained about the difficulty of getting water in the hostels and the condition of some toilets.

‘The hostel toilets are not clean and comfortable,’ she said.

Grace said she was concerned that poor sanitation could expose students to infections.

David Kura Abel, a Doctor of Physiotherapy student, also cited privacy as a reason for living off campus.

‘Honestly, I chose to stay off campus because of my privacy,’ David said.

But he said living outside the university also has its disadvantages, including the risk of missing lectures.

‘The challenge of staying off campus is that sometimes you get too lazy and miss a lot of lectures,’ he said.

For some students, the cost of renting outside the university is another concern.

Jamila Abubakar, a Public Administration student, said she spends more than ₦500,000 on rent and other housing-related expenses.

Despite the cost, Jamila said she feels safer living off campus but wants the university and government to improve student housing.

‘I would like the government to assist the university in improving their hostel standard so that we students can live in the university premises in Maiduguri,’ she said.

The cost of living off campus also extends beyond rent.

Augustine James Dagala, who provides accommodation to students, said students often complain about the cost of food, transportation and housing, as well as the distance between their homes and the university.

‘Cost of living, which includes food, transport, feeding and renting,’ Dagala said.

‘Then there is the issue with distance, trekking from their houses to school,’ he added.

Dagala said landlords also face challenges when renting rooms to students because it can be difficult to establish their financial backgrounds.

‘Some students are not honest, especially with their means of income,’ he said.

He said some students have legitimate sources of income, while others may be involved in illegal activities that could create problems for landlords if security agencies become involved.

Dagala suggested increasing the supply of student housing, reducing rent and addressing the cost of food to ease the financial burden on students.

Transportation is another expense for students living outside the university.

Those who live far from campus have to pay for transportation to attend lectures, use the library and access other university facilities.

Khalifa Abubakar, an SUG social director, said students living off campus often raise concerns about basic services and transportation costs.

He identified poor electricity, inadequate water supply and transportation costs as some of their main concerns.

Khalifa said better hostel facilities could encourage more students to live on campus.

‘The only way the university can help or solve this problem is by providing good accommodations in the hostel and good hostel maintenance,’ he said.

He said the condition of some hostels is one reason students look for housing outside the university, while privacy is another consideration for some students.

For many students, the decision is therefore not simply about where they prefer to live.

It is a choice between dealing with overcrowding, sanitation problems and limited privacy on campus or paying higher rent and transportation costs off campus.

For students such as Grace, David and Jamila, living off campus provides privacy and personal space, and in some cases, a greater sense of security.

But those benefits come with additional financial and transportation costs.

Until student housing is improved and made more affordable, many UNIMAID students may continue to weigh the cost of living off campus against the conditions in university hostels.

Editor's Note: This story was produced under a collaborative fellowship programme between Yerwa Express News (YEN), Lake Chad Times, and the Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), University of Maiduguri.