UDUSON Revises Rules and Regulations for Private Hostels Ahead of 2026/2027 Session

The Students’ Affairs Division (Private Hostel Unit) of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), has released revised rules and regulations governing private hostel accommodation ahead of the 2026/2027 academic session.

The revised guidelines are intended for students considering accommodation in private hostels and are aimed at improving hostel conditions, regulating allocation processes, monitoring students’ conduct and addressing challenges associated with private accommodation.

According to the notice, the review followed complaints involving cases where students paid for accommodation but were not allocated rooms, as well as instances of incomplete repairs in some facilities after payment had been made.

Under the new arrangement, all landlords are required to register their properties with the Private Hostel Unit and provide details of the rooms available for payment.

The Unit also directed landlords and caretakers of private hostels to ensure that their properties are in habitable condition upon inspection. The inspection will be conducted at least two months before the commencement of the academic session.

Facilities found unsuitable for student habitation must be renovated, or the properties risk losing their approval for use as private hostels.

The revised guidelines further require landlords to provide waste disposal facilities, security personnel and locked kitchen facilities for residents.

Landlords are also prohibited from charging students agency fees. According to the guidelines, students are only required to pay the agreed rent.

Students seeking private hostel accommodation are now required to complete an official application form and submit it to the Private Hostel Unit for verification before making any payment.

The Unit will charge landlords and caretakers an administrative fee of ₦2,000 per application.

Regarding students’ conduct, the Private Hostel Unit prohibits cooking inside rooms and the use of electric cookers except where stipulated conditions are met.

Unauthorised gatherings, including church services and club or society meetings, are also prohibited within hostel premises.

The guidelines further prohibit opposite-sex visits in hostels, homosexuality, lesbianism, smoking, alcohol consumption, gambling, fighting, cultism and other social vices within the hostel premises.

The Unit also warned that students below the age of 18 will not be allowed into private hostel premises.

Students have further been warned not to make any payments to anyone, regardless of the circumstances, unless specifically instructed by the Private Hostel Unit to do so.

The revised notice also introduced mandatory monthly sanitation exercises for residents.

The Private Hostel Unit warned that violations of the guidelines could result in eviction from private hostels or further disciplinary action in line with university regulations.

Landlords and caretakers have been tasked with ensuring compliance with the regulations and reporting defaulters to the Private Hostel Unit for necessary action.