Private hostel operators affiliated with the University of Ilorin have been ordered to refund all advance accommodation payments collected for the 2026/2027 session within 72 hours, following a directive from Vice Chancellor Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN.

The directive was issued during a meeting with hostel owners on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, after Egbewole received reports that some operators had begun accepting payments ahead of the University's official clearance procedures. Operators have also been instructed to halt further collection of accommodation fees until the Institution releases its list of students confirmed to be in good academic standing.

Egbewole explained that only the University's Senate holds the authority to determine and publish the official list of students eligible to proceed into the new academic session, warning that early fee collection undermines established institutional procedures. He cautioned that students who make advance payments before confirmation risk paying for accommodation they may ultimately be unable to occupy, creating unnecessary hardship for families.

The Vice Chancellor described the practice as inconsistent with orderly University administration and cautioned hostel operators against actions capable of interfering with academic regulations or generating confusion among students.

Responding on behalf of the operators, Chairman of the hostel owners' association, Williams Adedeji, acknowledged the University's concerns and assured Egbewole of the association's readiness to comply fully. He pledged that members would respect the University's position and adhere to the refund order along with future guidelines issued by the institution.

Accommodation remains a significant concern at UNILORIN, where demand for hostel spaces often exceeds available capacity, making privately owned hostels a key component of student housing near the Institution.

Further details on the meeting and implementation of the directive are expected in the next edition of the UNILORIN Bulletin, the University's official publication.