The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has explained why students were asked to come with their mattresses and some other personal items.

The management claimed that it was due to health issues that made them asked students staying in campus to come with their mattresses, adding that the halls are being renovated before the students would resume later in the month.

The Head of Information Unit, Alhaja Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, responds was in reaction to complaints by parents and student that with the hike in fees by the university, such items ought to be provided by the school.

Speaking on Wednesday with Vanguard, Adejoke said: “We asked the students to come with their own beddings materials for health reasons. That has been the practice for some time. It is not new. We are also working on the renovation of the various hostels too. Some of them would be fully renovated before the students resume later in the month.

“Those whose renovation works might not be completed before the students resume, we are going to continue work on them. We are working to make the hostels conducive for the students. As for the complaints that the hostel fees should be enough for the school to provide those items, we all know the situation in the country and the cost of items. N65,000 for instance as hostel fee for a year is not expensive going by what people pay for private accommodation. The management is mindful of the welfare of the students and we are making all efforts to make their stay on campus comfortable,” she said.

Wakadaily earlier reports that UNILAG recently hike obligations fees including hostel fee.

The hostel fee which was N25,000 was increased to N100,000 and N120,000 depending on the type of hostel.

However, the hostel fees were reduced to between N65,000 and N85,000 following significant protests from the parents and students.

“One of the private hostels near UNILAG, Emerald Suites, charges as much as N184,500 a bed space for a 4-man room and N200,000 a bed space for a 2-man room”.