Naraguta hostel since its inception has been one of the best hostels in the University of Jos. It offered something not quite every University can boast of, a room for a single individual which meant that it diverted from the usual four in a room setup to a room for just one person. This made the hostel attractive to students who needed a sense of privacy.
There are four blocks in the hostel: A, B and C blocks are for the male while the D block is for females.
THE CHALLENGES FACING THE HOSTEL
Naraguta hostel has been plagued with challenges ranging from poor infrastructure, insecurity, hostel allocation struggle amongst others.
In an interview with the Naraguta Hostel Governor, Odeh Augustine, he bemoaned the poor state of the hostel stating that it was once one of the best but as of recent it’s turning into something else. When asked about the hostel allocation issue he said ” Currently the allocation of the hostel is one block for boys, there are three blocks for boys and only one has been allocated. The block being allocated is still very hard to get. People get hostels by buying illegally which is very wrong. Many students are staying in the hostel illegally which is wrong. I am not in agreement with students buying hostels illegally but I cannot stop anybody but I’ve advised not to get hostels illegally.”
On the issue of insecurity and burglary the governor said that he was also a victim of burglary in the hostel. “In my 200 level my room was burgled, my phone and laptop was stolen. It happens all the time. Even when students are around. It’s not a rare occurrence. During holidays it’s even worse. For me the securities are not helping. The hostels are too free. Everybody has access to the hostels. Anybody can just come in at any given period of time. The hostel is too accessible and open.”
The poor infrastructure is seriously a big issue with broken doors and windows. Some rooms do not even have doors or windows. Wires being used to connect electricity to rooms have been stolen and students who resumed to their rooms like this have to purchase new wires for their rooms while also thinking about replacing the doors and windows. This just increases the cost of staying in the hostel.
Mr David, a 300-level student of science lab technology and the personal assistant to the hostel president disclosed these issues and said it has been like this for a while. He said, “there has been a lot of spoiling of doors and a lot of things were stolen. There are iron doors in some rooms but most of the doors are wooden and have been in the hostel for years. Wires have also been stolen so students have to buy wires to fix the electricity in the room and wires are very expensive as of now. It’s incredibly draining but what can we do?”
In another interview with Emmanuel a 300-level student of Agriculture, he reiterated the fact about the theft in the hostel. “Students rooms are being burgled even when schools are in session. You can leave your room and next thing you know they are already there. Some of these burglars might be students while some disguise themselves as people coming to sell things or help students to fetch water or do some other things.”
Miss Oluwatosin Adegbola, a 300-level student of Mass Communication during an interview contributed her own quota to the topic especially on the issue of the hostel allocation. “People are supposed to be getting hostels after paying school fees and clicking on the hostel allocation site to get hostels but It’s been incredibly difficult to get. So what most people have resulted to do is paying a lot for it. Some people were lucky to get because they were very alert and they got. Some retained the room while others sell it at a higher rate. Some people are also unlucky to find that their old room has been allocated to a new person so when they come back they have nowhere to stay.”
A WAY FORWARD
These challenges in the hostel is beginning to take a toll on students because of how stressful it is to get accommodation and be comfortable. But still with all these, the hostel is still very much appealing to students which points to the fact that the hostel is one of the best in the University and there is light at the end of the tunnel despite the current challenges it is faced with. There can be a way forward to fix these challenges and take Naraguta hostel back to its glory days.
The hostel governor was really vocal about solutions that can help. He highlighted some measures “the security should be up and doing and if they are not many, more should be hired and there should be shifts. The Man O War living close to the hostel should also try and help in guarding the hostel. With them providing the needed cover for security within the hostel.”
According to him, the hostel blocks should be made available to be bought or at least a few rooms within the four blocks should be kept for the 100-level while others can be made open for returning students to purchase.
As regards the poor infrastructure, the Physical facilities have a role to play in checking the hostels to see where it needs restructuring. It should not be the student’s responsibility to fix broken doors or windows. When the hostel is in a good state it will attract more and more students and even more income for the University. The glory days can be returned to the hostel because this can be one of the best hostels in the University.
Reports and Photos by Tagbo Adrian Chekwube and Markus Lois Achopo (Naraguta Hostel Correspondent) (1/5)
Edited by Isama Anayole Peace
The school should look into rearranging the hostel for beter living