House Agents Accused of ‘Daylight Robbery’ as TASUED Students Struggle With Rent

Students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, have cried out over the rising cost of accommodation, accusing housing agents of exploiting their desperation for shelter.

The students, who spoke with The Nigeria Education News, lamented that agent fees have now grown so steep that they almost equal the actual rents being charged. For a self-contained apartment of about ₦200,000, some agents reportedly demand between ₦60,000 and ₦80,000 as service charges — nearly half the cost of rent itself.

“They don’t even care about our welfare. The only language they understand is money,” one frustrated student said. “How can you pay ₦200,000 for rent and still add almost another ₦80,000 for agent fees? It’s unfair.”

A visit to the university community revealed that most accommodations around TASUED are controlled by agents, with landlords rarely transacting directly with students. This, students argue, has given agents monopoly power to dictate harsh and exploitative terms.

The burden is compounded by the scarcity of on-campus hostels, forcing the majority of TASUED students into private housing. “It’s daylight robbery,” another student said. “We are struggling to pay tuition, buy textbooks, and feed ourselves. Adding outrageous rent and agent fees is too much.”

Vendors around the campus confirmed the complaints. A food seller told The Nigeria Education News that students frequently grumble about rent pressures, with some even considering dropping out. “They complain every day. Some say they can’t cope anymore,” she said.

Parents who accompanied their wards for registration also voiced concerns, describing the situation as heartbreaking. “We send money thinking it will cover school needs, only to find out that agents are the biggest beneficiaries,” one parent lamented.

Community members warn that unless urgent measures are taken, the exploitative housing practices may discourage prospective students from enrolling at TASUED. “If accommodation costs close to half a million naira in total, students may start looking for other universities,” a resident observed.

While agents continue to defend their charges as standard practice, students insist the fees are far above what is obtainable in other university communities across Ogun State. They are now calling on the university management to intervene by providing more affordable hostels or regulating accommodation practices around the institution.

As of press time, TASUED authorities had yet to issue an official response to the growing outcry.