Good accommodation is lacking in most of Nigerian higher institutions. In some schools only some students are not offered accommodation and they seek theirs outside the school. Most of the accommodation provided in some cases are overcrowded with more than four students per room. The bunker beds occupy large portion of the room leaving few space. Having many students sharing one room constitutes some social problems, which are discussed below.
(1) It causes discomfort
Due to the large number of people, the facilities are limited. It is common to see students queing in the morning to use the toilet or bathroom. These facilities are overused, easily damaged and poorly maintained. This condition is not comfortable for better academic exercise.
(2) Stife and victimization
In the ensuing competition, strife and victimization become frequent occurrence. The stronger ones lording over the weak and physical combat cannot be ruled out.
(3) Promote disease spread.
With Overcrowding and poor ventilation the spread of disease is made easier. This creates a fertile ground for the spread of contagious disease.
(4) It enhances theft.
Now and then, you hear students complain about missing valuables such as phones, computers and clothes. The restrictions of access to the rooms is a hard task because of the many occupants. Also, having just one roommate who steals is enough bad nightmare.
(5) Corruption of good traits
In some occasions, well behaved students are led astray by their bad room mates. They are taught the act of fornication, drugs, or cultism. Can you imagine that some bad eggs can be making love with their lovers in the same room even when their room mates are around. What is more corrupting than this?
(6) Disruption of reading and quiet time.
A student, after a tedious class work goes to relax in the room, only to be disturbed by the loud music played by his/her room mate who even refused to reduce the volume. The room is often turned to disco hall at the expense of others. What about the to and fro movement of roommates and their visiting noisy friends.
Although there might be some positive effects of many students staying together such as building relationships and friendship, helping one another, but there is need to depopulate our school hostels.
The schools should build more hostels to guarantee good accommodation for their students. Also, they should not admit more students than the design of the school.
Poor hostel accommodation can negatively affect a student's academic performance. Therefore this task must be given priority by all.
A student that is unable to secure a comfortable accommodation should seek for
such outside the campus, although it will cost more. Before taking up private hostel accommodation, the student should consider the security of the environment and it's proximity to the campus.