Serious Roof Issues in Angola Hall Put Occupants at Risk

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By Israel Bakare 
Obafemi Awolowo University, considered the most beautiful campus in Africa, is facing challenges with hostel management despite a significant increase in hostel fees. The fees rose from ₦3,090 to ₦30,000 for freshmen and ₦25,000 for staylites in the 2022/2023 session. Then, it rose to ₦50,000 in the 2023/2024 session.

The Angola Hall of Residence is in a concerning state, with broken roofs and weakened woods that have been damaged by termites evident in various locations. Room 105 in Block A, beside the hall executives' room, suffers from a broken roof. Additionally, the roofs along the entrance of the rooms in Block A are so weak that metal pillars have been installed to support them. This precarious situation poses a danger, as the roofs could collapse unexpectedly, potentially causing serious harm.
Joseph Igwe, a resident of Block A, Bed 2, Room 105, whose bunk faces the broken roof, stated, "I reported its condition to the executives last year, and they promised to address it, but nothing has been done since."


The alarming state of the hostels extends to Block C, where the bathroom roof is in poor condition. Exposed electrical wires can be seen outside the ceiling, leading down towards the area where students bathe.

While investigating this issue, a nearby observer and resident of Block C, Room 101, Ogunmakin Paul, remarked, "We found the hostel in this condition and have been managing it since we arrived. However, we urge the management to take action."
Residents of Block D are also facing similar challenges, as the bathroom ceiling is broken. Temitayo Ogundare from Room D102 mentioned that they found it in this state, although they have yet to report the issue to the executives.

Furthermore, there is a broken ceiling at the entrance of Block D, mirroring the situation in Block A. Emmanuel Eniola from Room D104 expressed concern, stating that the hostel conditions are unacceptable and urged management to act promptly to address these issues, to prevent further deterioration that could lead to accidents and harm to residents.

Sodiq Olasunkanmi, a resident of Block D, stated, "The wooden supports for the roofs are weak and could collapse at any time." He emphasised that Block C faces similar issues and urged the management to take action to prevent an accident.
A resident of Angola, who requested to remain anonymous, recounted, "The ceiling that collapsed in the Angola reading room fell while I was studying last year. It happened at night; suddenly, the ceiling came down. I was slightly away from it, and my laptop was also safely positioned. I am grateful I was not injured that day."

He added, "It happened here in Angola last session too, in my friend's room, Block C101, when he was a fresher." According to his friend's account, the ceiling in Angola Block C101 collapsed unexpectedly at midnight. Fortunately, his roommate, a medical student sleeping in the upper bunk, was not present that night. Had they been there, they could have sustained serious injuries. In the days that followed, the condition of the roof worsened, with almost all the ceilings damaged. The previous executives had to arrange temporary accommodation for the affected residents before hiring a carpenter to repair only their room, neglecting the damaged bathroom as well. He stressed that the Angola building requires a thorough examination to assess the current state of each block and room.

Hall Executives' Response 
In a conversation with Kujembola Olalekan, the chairman of Angola Hall, he stated, "I have reported the condition of the broken ceilings in Angola to the warden, but no action has been taken by the management. In my opinion, urgent measures should be implemented for our safety. The warden should apply more pressure on the management rather than merely informing them." He added, "I met with the warden three weeks ago to discuss the state of our residence."

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