Morganable News / communities
Students with disabilities at the University of Jos are struggling with unsafe hostel conditions, poor sanitation and inaccessible learning facilities, raising fresh concerns about inclusive education and the protection of their rights in Nigerian universities.
Lagos —
Students with disabilities at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State, are facing serious challenges in their efforts to access education and live independently. Poorly maintained hostels, inaccessible bathrooms and difficult campus pathways have made everyday activities increasingly stressful for some of the students.
A recent investigation has brought attention to the conditions at the university’s Village Hostel, which accommodates students with disabilities. The findings reveal that some residents struggle to access basic facilities because the buildings and surrounding environment do not adequately support their mobility needs.
For students who use wheelchairs, entering bathrooms can be particularly difficult. Some facilities lack ramps, grab rails and other essential support structures. Consequently, students may have to rely on uncomfortable and unsafe alternatives to use the toilets.
The challenges become worse during the rainy season. Water collects around parts of the hostel, making movement difficult for residents with mobility challenges. Some students struggle to move through wet and uneven surfaces, while their wheelchairs remain exposed to the weather.
These conditions raise concerns about personal hygiene, safety and the dignity of students who should have equal opportunities to enjoy university life.
Poor hostel conditions deepen students’ struggles
The Village Hostel, according to the investigation, dates back to the mid-1980s. Although the university has continued to accommodate students there, its facilities have not adequately addressed the needs of residents with disabilities.
An assessment of the hostel environment reportedly revealed poorly maintained bathrooms, dirty toilet areas and a lack of basic accessibility features.
Beyond the buildings, the surrounding compound also presents difficulties. Uneven pathways, stones, potholes and overgrown vegetation make it harder for wheelchair users to move around without assistance.
Some sections of the compound and rooms are also difficult to access because they lack ramps.
For visually impaired students, these environmental conditions create additional risks. The investigation documented an incident involving a visually impaired student who fell while attempting to fetch water within the hostel compound.
Such experiences show that accessibility is not simply about providing accommodation. It also involves ensuring that students can move safely, use essential facilities and participate in everyday activities without unnecessary dependence on others.
Classroom accessibility remains a concern
The challenges are not limited to residential facilities. Students with disabilities also encounter difficulties accessing lecture halls and classrooms.
According to the investigation, several classrooms visited, particularly within the Faculty of Education, lacked adequate provisions for students with mobility difficulties.
As a result, some students depend on their colleagues to navigate campus spaces and reach their classrooms.
This dependence can affect their independence, participation and overall learning experience. It may also create additional pressure for students who already have to overcome physical barriers to attend lectures.
For a university community that should encourage equal participation, such conditions raise important questions about how effectively the institution supports students with different accessibility needs.
Education should provide opportunities for everyone, regardless of physical ability. Therefore, students with disabilities should not have to struggle with avoidable environmental barriers before they can access their lessons.
Disability rights and the responsibility of universities
Nigeria already has a legal framework designed to protect people with disabilities.
The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, provides for equal access to public buildings and prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities.
Under Section 3, persons with disabilities have the right to access the physical environment and buildings on an equal basis with others. Section 4 also requires public buildings to provide appropriate accessibility features, including ramps and lifts where necessary.
Importantly, the law gave existing public buildings five years to make the required modifications. That transition period ended in January 2024.
The Act also addresses access to education. Section 17 provides for the right of persons with disabilities to education and requires public schools to be inclusive and accessible.
These provisions make accessibility an obligation rather than an optional service.
Universities therefore have a responsibility to ensure that their facilities do not prevent students with disabilities from enjoying the same educational opportunities as their colleagues.
However, the situation reported at UNIJOS raises questions about the implementation of these provisions, particularly in older buildings and student accommodation.
Students question facility improvement charges
The condition of the hostel has also raised questions about the fees students pay for university facilities.
According to the investigation, students pay a facility improvement charge of ₦5,000, alongside other charges, including ₦30,000 for utilities. Residents of Village Hostel reportedly pay about ₦24,000 per academic session for accommodation.
Although the facility improvement charge is not exclusively meant for hostel renovations, the situation has prompted questions about the improvements students receive in return.
Students need safe accommodation, functional toilets, accessible pathways and reliable facilities. For those living with disabilities, these are essential requirements rather than additional conveniences.
The university’s Students’ Union Government has reportedly raised concerns about the hostel conditions with the management on several occasions.
Following an assessment of student accommodation, the union reportedly submitted a letter highlighting problems such as leaking roofs, poorly maintained toilets, inaccessible bathroom entrances and areas affected by flooding during the rainy season.
The union also expressed concern that rainwater enters some students’ rooms, making their living conditions more difficult.
However, substantial improvements were reportedly yet to be made at the time of the investigation.
University management yet to provide a full response
The investigation also sought explanations from the university’s management regarding the condition of the facilities, planned renovations and measures to improve accessibility.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Student Affairs were contacted, while the institution’s spokesperson acknowledged the observations and indicated that feedback would be sought from the relevant departments.
However, the investigation reported that a comprehensive response had not been received at the time of publication.
Attempts were also made to obtain comments from the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities on its role in addressing accessibility challenges in public institutions.
The commission’s leadership had not provided answers to the questions before the report was published.
These responses are important because the responsibility for inclusive education extends beyond individual universities. Regulatory institutions also have a role in monitoring compliance and ensuring that disability rights are protected.
Beyond admission: The need for inclusive education
The situation at UNIJOS highlights a wider issue facing higher education institutions in Nigeria. Providing admission opportunities for students with disabilities is only one part of creating an inclusive learning environment.
Universities must also ensure that students can access their hostels, classrooms, libraries, bathrooms and other essential facilities safely.
Furthermore, accessibility should be considered whenever institutions plan new buildings, renovate existing structures or improve student accommodation.
Students with disabilities should also have opportunities to report accessibility problems and participate in decisions that affect their welfare.
For the University of Jos, addressing the concerns raised will require more than temporary adjustments. It will involve practical improvements to buildings, pathways, sanitation facilities and learning spaces.
Ultimately, a university’s commitment to education should reflect in the experiences of every student, including those who require additional accessibility support.
No student should have to crawl into a bathroom, depend on others to navigate an inaccessible classroom or risk falling while trying to fetch water.
Inclusive education must go beyond policies and promises. It should be visible in the buildings students enter, the facilities they use and the dignity they enjoy throughout their academic journey.
