The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, has raised serious concerns over rising tuition fees, soaring accommodation costs, and escalating security challenges affecting students in tertiary institutions across the region.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday, the zonal coordinator, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, called for immediate action to prevent the situation from escalating into widespread student unrest.
The student leaders also acknowledged the contributions of previous executives led by Comrade Owolewa Taiwo and expressed gratitude to the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, for hosting a peaceful convention. They stressed that recognition of good governance is nonpartisan. “Our priority is students’ welfare and protection. Acknowledging good work does not equate to supporting any political party or individual,” Comrade Kayode said.
The association commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a landmark initiative that has benefited hundreds of thousands of students nationwide. NANS urged the Federal Government to expand NELFUND to include private tertiary institutions and encouraged eligible students in the Southwest to take advantage of the interest-free loans.
Housing and tuition concerns
Highlighting the rising cost of off-campus accommodation, NANS noted that students in many communities pay between ₦150,000 and ₦600,000 annually, while furnished hostels near major campuses can cost over ₦1 million per year. “These exploitative rental practices are forcing students into overcrowded and unsafe living conditions, negatively impacting their health, academic performance, and personal security,” the group said.
NANS called on state governments and Houses of Assembly across the Southwest to adopt student-friendly tenancy regulations similar to Lagos State’s Tenancy Bill of 2025. The association also condemned arbitrary tuition increases by some tertiary institutions and issued a seven-day notice, effective February 18, 2026, directing affected institutions to engage with student unions and review the increments. Failure to comply, NANS warned, could trigger coordinated but peaceful student action.
Security and anti-cultism initiatives
The association raised concerns over rising security risks, including highway kidnappings and campus cult-related violence, announcing plans to convene a Southwest Student Security Summit. The summit will bring together student leaders, campus authorities, and security agencies—including the Police, DSS, and NSCDC—to design a coordinated security framework.
NANS reaffirmed a zero-tolerance stance on cultism, drug abuse, sexual harassment, and examination malpractice, pledging ongoing awareness campaigns across all institutions in the zone.
Civic engagement and student representation
As part of its democratic engagement agenda, NANS launched the Students Vote Project—Zone D, aimed at boosting voter registration and civic participation among students. The initiative, in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeks to make registration and polling more accessible while fostering responsible and informed student participation in elections.
To curb impersonation and misuse, NANS also announced an embargo on the production of NANS vehicle number plates and introduced verification procedures for all existing users.
The zonal leadership reaffirmed its commitment to restoring functional Student Union Governments (SUGs) in institutions where they have been suspended or banned, describing student representation as a fundamental right. NANS pledged to engage university authorities and mobilize students to ensure unions are reinstated and student welfare concerns addressed.
Concluding the press conference, NANS urged students across the Southwest to remain united, disciplined, and committed to constructive activism, emphasizing that the future of education and student empowerment depends on collective action and strategic engagement with authorities.