By John Dike, Osogbo
The Southwest Zone D of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a seven-day ultimatum, effective February 18, 2026, to higher institutions in the zone which have increased their fees to review the increments.
It also condemned what it described as arbitrary tuition increases implemented by some tertiary institutions without consultation with student unions.
It warned that failure to comply with the ultimatum may prompt coordinated but peaceful student action to safeguard their welfare and access to education.
Security and Anti-Cultism Initiatives
The students raised serious concerns over rising tuition fees, soaring accommodation costs, and growing security challenges affecting students across tertiary institutions in the region.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Osogbo, the zonal leadership urged immediate action to prevent the situation from escalating into widespread student unrest.
The student leaders expressed gratitude to the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, for hosting a peaceful convention, and acknowledged the contributions of previous executives led by Comrade Owolewa Taiwo.
They also lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a landmark intervention that has benefited hundreds of thousands of students nationwide.
NANS urged the Federal Government to expand NELFUND to include students in private tertiary institutions and called on all eligible students in the Southwest to take advantage of the interest-free loans.
Te body deplored the soaring accommodation costs, warnung that the escalating cost of off-campus housing is now a major barrier to education.
Students in many communities reportedly pay between ₦150,000 and ₦600,000 annually for accommodation, 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, which negatively affect their health, academic performance, and personal security,” NANS said.
The group urged state governments and Houses of Assembly across the Southwest to adopt student-friendly tenancy regulations similar to Lagos State’s Tenancy Bill of 2025, aimed at preventing arbitrary rent hikes and protecting students from exploitation.
NANS highlighted increasing security risks, including highway kidnappings and cult-related violence on campuses. Citing recent incidents affecting student travellers, the association announced plans to convene a Southwest Student Security Summit, bringing together student leaders, campus authorities, and security agencies such as the Police, DSS, and NSCDC to develop a coordinated security framework.
The body also declared a zero-tolerance stance on cultism, drug abuse, sexual harassment, and examination malpractice, pledging ongoing awareness campaigns across institutions.
Civic Engagement: Students Vote Project
As part of its democratic engagement agenda, NANS launched the Students Vote Project — Zone D, designed to increase voter registration and civic participation among students.
The project involves collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and aims to make registration and polling more accessible, while fostering responsible and informed student participation in elections.
The association also announced an embargo on the production of NANS vehicle number plates to curb impersonation and misuse, introducing verification procedures for all existing users.
Restoration of Student Union Governments
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 rather than a privilege. The association vowed to engage university authorities and mobilize students where necessary to ensure unions are reinstated and student welfare concerns addressed.
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.
