Following complaints of fraudulent hostel fee collection, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has warned fresh students to be vigilant and avoid paying any unofficial charges.

In a statement signed by its Director of Information, Ozowara Chibueze Isaac, SUG said it had received several reports and complaints about illegal fees allegedly imposed on students, particularly freshers, under the guise of hostel clearance, on-site clearance, bed space, or similar charges.

The Students’ Union clarified that neither the university management nor the Students’ Union Government had approved any such payments, stressing that “there is NO directive from the school management or the Students’ Union Government for students to pay any form of hostel clearance fee, on-site clearance fee, bed space fee, or any other hostel-related charge, regardless of the name it is called.”

According to them, the only legitimate hostel payment is the one made through the university’s official portal after a student has successfully applied for and been allocated a bed space through the approved process.

It added that “any payment demanded outside the official school process is NOT authorised and should be completely disregarded.”

The union further advised students to be wary of individuals or groups claiming to facilitate hostel clearance, confirm bed space, or arrange hostel allocation, calling such claims fraudulent.

“If there is any approved hostel-related payment or directive in the future, students will be duly informed through official channels,” the SUG assured.

While addressing freshers, the union advised them to resume and proceed to their allocated hostels, locate their bed spaces through the proper school process, and secure them legitimately.

The SUG further encouraged students to be vigilant and to report any dubious or unauthorised requests to the appropriate authorities. (The Guardian)