IDONGESIT INYANG, CALABAR
Female students of the University of Calabar UNICAL have complained bitterly of frequent flooding, threats of wild animal especially reptiles as well as fear of electrocution in their hostels, positing that the state of the facilities make life unbearable for them.
During a visit by our reporter, many of the students who pleaded anonymity, said they were not safe anymore.
They recounted how many of them have suffered electricity shocks due to the exposure of naked wires as the hostels are always flooded due to leakages on the roofs.
According to one of them, “we’ll spend time scooping the water, even as our course books and other valuables are often been soaked and besides this, the environment of the hostel is very untidy, giving room to dangerous reptiles and other animals.
“Our living environment is not conducive and very risky for human habitation as often, dangerous animals surface, threatening us.”
Another female student who also pleaded anonymity, said “I have personally lost my handouts and costly books. My mates have similarly suffered the same fate. We’re not safe in this hostel,” she said.
Additionally, the gutters and soak-away are filled to the brim, and they appealed that the school authorities should help in emptying them.
While, they spoke well of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, for her efforts at infrastructural development in the school, they appealed to her to visit the ‘Malabo Republic’ which houses the hostels and see their living conditions.
