Surface Defacing: A Growing Eyesore in Halls of Residence and Campus Spaces

 

Taking a casual stroll along Queen Elizabeth ll Hall B-block, middle floor corridor, one can easily tell that a lot of people are on their way, coming and running. Residents have noticed this eyesore and as such bemoaned the charge with which political aspirants shove themselves down the throat of unsuspecting electorates. Now, the casualties are neither the electorates nor the aspirants but the environment which is left distorted after the political turbulence subsides. Likewise, the anyhowness with which aspirants lay their pieces of ambition on surfaces defies any logical justification; even mirrors are stakeholders here, looking into the mirror is looking at some politician's catchphrase. Sad to realize but, walls, floors and mirrors are the new objects of political mishap.

Surfaces are not just structures that define boundaries; they represent the beauty and orderliness of an environment. Within student halls and across university campuses, they serve as important symbols of discipline, cleanliness, and pride. Sadly, this sense of beauty and responsibility is being eroded by the growing act of surface defacing, an act that has become a common sight in student communities.

The defacing of public spaces during election seasons reflects a deeper political culture that prioritizes visibility over responsibility. In the university politics, aspirants often imitate the desperation and disregard seen in national politics, where power is pursued at any cost, and the environment becomes collateral damage. Campaign teams litter walls and walkways with slogans and promises, hoping that quantity will substitute for quality. What this practice truly exposes is a systemic failure of political education: a generation of leaders-in-training who have yet to understand that leadership is not about how many posters one can paste, but how much respect one can command through conduct and ideas. The walls tell stories, not of ambition, but of indiscipline masked as enthusiasm.

Apart from campus aspirants, campus fellowships, church groups, student organizations and student entrepreneurs, are among those who frequently paste posters and flyers indiscriminately on walls, mirrors, floor, and even water tanks. What used to be a means of publicity has now become an act that disfigures and devalues the school environment. Making walls and surfaces look like an undignified marketplace. 

Despite repeated warnings, the act continues. In an article published by IndyPress, it was observed that public areas remain heavily littered with campaign posters and event flyers despite clear legislative directives against such actions. Earlier in September 2025, the 14th Assembly of Indy Hall had issued a memorandum signed by the Speaker, Honourable Gbadebo David, and the Clerk, Honourable Matthew, warning residents against wall defacing. The memorandum stated that defaulters would be fined ₦1000 according to the hall’s constitution. Yet, the practice persists across different parts of the hall.

Beyond Indy Hall, the problem cuts across many halls of residence and faculties. Students from various hostels expressed their views on the issue, highlighting how widespread and damaging surface defacing has become.

According to Oluwabukolami Elesho, a Law student who once resided in Obafemi Awolowo Hall,

“Wall defacing is an issue that has been in existence for so long. When I was staying in the public hostel, there is hardly anywhere you get to that the wall has not been defaced with one flyer or the other. The perpetrators even move beyond defacing walls to defacing people’s room doors and window sides. When these flyers are removed, remnants still make the once beautiful place turn ugly.”

In a similar view, Akorede Olasupo, a 300-level student and resident of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, expressed his concern about how wall defacing affects the appearance of the campus.

“These fliers and posters pose a great threat to the aesthetics of the school environment. This issue is more rampant during election seasons as aspirants bombard the walls and even the ground with fliers. I often wonder how effective these posters are in this digital age when most people are glued to their gadgets. The university management needs to impose strong sanctions on violators,” he said.

Other students also expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation. Ojediran Abisola Beloved, an Animal Science student, noted that the habit of pasting posters everywhere “shows a lack of respect for spaces and cleanliness.” She stressed that publicity is important but must be done in a responsible and organized manner.

The story is quite different in the faculty of law because of its stringent policy on surface defacement. To this end, it is no surprise that the Faculty of Law has barely any posters, given the extant rules against surface defacement, which are strictly enforced. Faculty members and students are well aware that attaching any object to the building without prior notification is prohibited. In fact, posters of any kind are generally not permitted within the faculty premises. Banners, however and in exceptional cases are allowed due to their temporary nature and ease of removal from railings, roof edges, and other areas. Unfortunately, this has led to aspirants resorting to pasting objects and posters on surfaces outside the faculty, contributing to the overall issue of surface defacement on campus.

Queen Elizabeth II Hall, however, suffers a different fate entirely. Its once graceful walkways have become a parody of glamour, lined with posters that form a make-belief red carpet of political ambition. Every corner screams urgency, every wall competes for attention, and the sheer number of fliers nearly blinds the view of what used to be clean, welcoming spaces. The desperation is palpable, one flier is rarely enough. Instead, the same design is plastered repeatedly on a single stretch of wall, standing side by side as though five or six versions of the same message could amplify what one well-placed poster could easily convey. The result is a visual chaos that not only clutters the environment but also mirrors the frenzied nature of campus politics itself.

In another pressing concern, there remains the issue of certain aspirants, their stakeholders, and even some executives who appear to perceive the press as an object of ridicule. These individuals repeatedly infringe upon the rights of pressmen and women issuing threats, warning them not to publish stories or face dire repercussions. While it is a well-established fact that the press must remain neutral and refrain from participating in electoral campaigns or promotions, one must ask: why then do some continue to disregard law and order, deface walkways, and suppress the freedom of the press? As a word of caution, every candidate is strongly advised to exercise restraint and conduct themselves with respect for both institutional regulations and the principles of free expression.

Addressing the Problem

From a professional standpoint, this issue reveals not only a lapse in environmental discipline but also a failure of administrative strategy. Universities should not merely react with fines and memos; they should proactively build systems that blend order with creativity. Clear policies on publicity, periodic environmental audits, and student-led awareness drives can transform the culture from careless promotion to responsible expression. When students see the environment as part of their identity, not just a backdrop for ambition, respect follows naturally. In the end, preserving clean walls is not about control, it is about cultivating the kind of leadership that values accountability, aesthetics, and integrity in equal measure.

To curb the menace of wall defacing, the university community must take collective responsibility. First, management should establish designated areas within every hall and faculty where posters and flyers can be placed legally. This will not only reduce defacement but also make publicity more organized.

There should also be an approval system to ensure that every poster or flyer displayed within the school is properly authorized. This process would make it easier to track who is responsible for each publication and promote strict compliance with established regulations.

To serve as a deterrence, defaulters should face strict disciplinary measures or fines. Without punishment, the warnings will continue to be ignored. Regular clean-up exercises should also be conducted to remove old or unauthorized posters, and students should be involved in maintaining cleanliness within their halls.

On that hand, In response to the increasing defacement of its surroundings, the Queen Elizabeth II Hall Management issued a stern caution to all residents and political aspirants. In a recent Notice of Premises Protection and Campaign Regulations issued on the 30th of October, 2025, the management emphasized that the Hall premises is under strict maintenance and protection, and any form of campaign material, posters, flyers, or banners, that defaces walls, pavements, or seat-out areas would attract penalties. The notice further clarified that responsibility extends beyond the individual who physically pastes the posters; any candidate whose name appears on such material would be held accountable and fined accordingly. To maintain order and cleanliness, the management directed that all campaign activities and materials be confined strictly to designated notice boards. This step by the Hall management not only demonstrates environmental preservation but also sends a clear message to candidates and organizations at large that leadership begins with discipline. If such measures are consistently enforced and embraced across all halls, the university community can begin to restore the beauty, pride, and order that once characterized its spaces.

In an era of digital communication, student groups, religious organizations, and political aspirants should be encouraged to adopt online publicity. Platforms like social media, email newsletters, and university online boards can serve as effective alternatives to paper-based advertisements.

Conclusion

Surface defacing is more than just an issue of untidiness, it shows the level of discipline and respect students have for their environment. Every pasted poster on an unauthorized surface sends a message about disregard for order and collective responsibility. To maintain the beauty and integrity of our university, all members of the community must work together to stop surface defacing. It is time for everyone, students, organizations, and management alike, to embrace orderliness, preserve the environment, and uphold the values of cleanliness and respect that make our campus truly beautiful.

This Piece is a Joint Publication from The Law Press Organization and Queen Elizabeth ll Hall Press organization.