Tinubu Approves ₦250bn for Student Hostel Construction Nationwide – Alausa

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa

Tinubu Approves ₦250bn for Student Hostel Construction Nationwide – Alausa

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, says President Bola Tinubu has approved ₦250 billion for the construction of student hostels across tertiary institutions in Nigeria as part of efforts to address the country’s long-standing student accommodation crisis. Alausa made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of governing boards, principal officers, and chief executives of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education. He explained that the intervention represents the first major, dedicated federal investment targeted specifically at improving hostel facilities in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.

The minister stated that the funding will be deployed to at least 50 tertiary institutions, with each institution expected to receive about ₦2 billion for the construction of hostels Feacapable of accommodating at least 500 students. He added that an additional ₦90 billion will be channelled through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements to support hostel development in 24 federal institutions, with each facility expected to provide between 1,200 and 1,500 bed spaces. According to him, “We have several of those schools whose constructions have already started cumulatively, ₦250 billion in 2026 to provide student accommodation alone.”

Alausa further disclosed that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) will provide ₦1 billion counterpart funding per institution, while private investors are expected to contribute about ₦4 billion each under the PPP framework. He said the initiative is designed to expand access to safe and affordable student housing in Nigerian tertiary institutions, reduce overcrowding in hostels, and improve overall welfare and learning conditions.

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The minister noted that the project directly targets long-standing accommodation deficits in institutions such as Lagos State University (LASU) and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) among others. He stressed that the administration is now prioritising implementation-driven reforms that focus on measurable outcomes rather than policy announcements alone. Alausa also commended President Tinubu for what he described as a “missionary approach” to governance, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda has strengthened investment in education and human capital development. He added that the education sector has received the highest budgetary allocation in Nigeria for two consecutive years, reflecting government focus on education reform in Nigeria.

Beyond the hostel project, Alausa announced additional investments including ₦130 billion for engineering and technology workshops and ₦120 billion for upgrading medical schools nationwide. He charged newly inaugurated board members of education agencies to ensure accountability, transparency, and improved institutional performance across the sector.

The event also featured the inauguration of several governing council members and agency heads across key education institutions. Among those inaugurated were Prof. Babatunde Salako as Chairman of the NBTE Governing Board, Prof. Modupe Adelabu as Chairman of the NECO Governing Board, and David Shofoyeke as Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA). Others include Prof. Garba Shuaib, Prof. Kabiru Dungurawa, Dr Bongfa Bonfa, Prof. Tijani Kalli, and Mr Abba Goni, among others appointed to various councils and administrative positions across federal tertiary institutions.

Chairman of the NBTE Governing Board, Prof. Babatunde Salako, pledged commitment to transparency, institutional strengthening, and aligning Nigeria’s education system with national economic needs. The Federal Ministry of Education says the new interventions are part of a broader strategy to improve infrastructure, reduce student hardship, and reposition Nigeria’s tertiary education system for long-term competitiveness.