Accommodation Catastrophe: UNIJOS 2025 Plunged into Chaos by Hostels Crisis

The much-anticipated 27th Nigerian University Games (NUGA 2025) at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) has gotten off to a rough start, as a messy accommodation situation quickly took over the headlines. What was meant to be a celebration of Nigeria’s best student-athletes has instead been overshadowed by confusion and frustration over where teams would stay.

Reports and images from the Jos campus confirm a logistical meltdown that has severely affected the welfare and morale of arriving athletes.

The Waiting Game: Stranded and Humiliated

The crisis started almost as soon as the first contingents arrived. The University of Ibadan (UI) team reportedly spent over six hours stranded outside their assigned hostels, unable to secure accommodation. Many of the athletes, tired from long-distance travel and exposed to Jos’ cold, high-altitude weather, voiced their frustration at the situation.

The complaints quickly made their way to social media. One athlete wrote, “I’ve never been so humiliated in my life. After traveling for two days, we got here only to find the hostels in terrible shape. It’s heartbreaking.”

Pictures soon followed, showing rusty bunk beds, worn-out mattresses, and rooms that looked far from ready to host national athletes. For an event of this scale, the conditions were disappointing and far below the standard expected of Nigeria’s biggest university sports festival.

Rejection and Withdrawal

The situation went from bad to worse as university officials and team leaders began inspecting the hostels allocated to them.

At least two universities reportedly rejected the accommodation outright, insisting that the facilities were unfit for human use. Some schools refused to move their athletes in, citing safety and hygiene concerns after seeing the state of the rooms.

The inability to provide clean, livable lodging has now raised serious questions about planning and coordination by the University of Jos. The setback adds to existing worries over security and the absence of top schools like UNIPORT and OAU, a combination that threatens to dampen the spirit and reputation of this year’s Games.

Pressure Mounts on Organizers

The organizers are now under immense pressure to swiftly resolve the accommodation crisis, secure suitable alternative housing, and restore confidence among the thousands of participants expected throughout the tournament.

The ultimate success of NUGA 2025 now depends on how quickly the host can stabilize these fundamental logistical challenges and refocus attention on the games themselves.