OUR PREDICAMENT

Squatting, an activity that involves, according to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary; International Student’s Edition, ‘living in a building or on land which is not yours without the owner’s permission’. From time immemorial, squatting took place in various forms, and in the long run, squatter who are unfortunate are displaced while some get lucky enough to become Land-Lords. Although, land was almost abundantly free then, there were still some form of processes to abide by in order to attain ownership.

Typically, squatting in the strict sense, is occupying or living in a building or on a property which does not belong to the trespasser; especially as the unlawful tenant lives there without paying rents. There are now several laws guiding occupancy of any property, some really strict, others lenient. This is why in some countries, the penniless would rather sleep in the streets than occupy a building; abandoned or not, due to the strict laws guiding illegal occupancy. In some others like ours however, people occupy others’ properties unlawfully though ‘legally’ by hiding under and manipulating the inoperative laws.

In schools however, while the number of accommodation-seeking students continue to rise, the number of squatters is becoming alarming. Really, nothing less than trouble is to be expected where an institution cannot cater for the number of students it has admitted with so much promises. In institutions where the school provides no form of accommodation for the students, the case is usually different… Why do students squat? So many reasons are ascribed to this. From not being able to afford the fees, to not being offered accommodation by the Hall of Residence, to wanting to squat intentionally, the problem is almost uncontrollable. Like the saying, ‘there are several ways to skin a cat’, how can squatting be managed without, first, trampling on the rights of other students and secondly, solving the hazards that comes with illegal occupancy?

Although we tend to view the issue of squatting as danger free, there is so much more attached to it than can be imagined. Several cases of theft, harm, hostility, conflict, and infectious conditions are associated with squatting. However, most squatters are helpless and only squat as last resort, still the problems inherent therein cannot be over-emphasized. Call this a dilemma and you will not be wrong, the issue need be addressed urgently to safeguard students’ lives, properties, and rights.

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