Students Lament Neglect of Relaxation Spot at University of Maiduguri

Popular hangout area now abandoned and dirty, students call for urgent renovation.

A relaxation spot inside the University of Maiduguri campus, once known for being a cool place where students gathered to rest and hang out, is now in poor condition and almost abandoned.

The area, located near some faculty buildings, is now filled with litter, broken tiles, dried plants, and damaged benches. The shelter above is partly broken, and even the table tennis board there is dusty and unused.

“This place used to be fun. We used to sit here between lectures, play games, or just relax. But now it’s dirty and uncomfortable,” said Abdulmalik Hassan, a final-year student.

Another student, Fatima Umar, said the space no longer feels safe or welcoming. “It’s not well taken care of. Everywhere is messy, and no one wants to sit here anymore,” she said.

The spot was designed to help students take short breaks, hold group discussions, and relax outside lecture halls. But many students believe the school has forgotten about it.

Some are calling on the school management to fix the place—clean it up, repair the benches, plant fresh trees, and make it lively again. They say places like this are important for students’ well-being and social life.

Efforts to speak with the university’s maintenance office were not successful at the time of writing this report.

Students hope that something will be done soon, so the area can be useful again, especially as exams and school stress continue to rise.