The paper analyses factors enhancing pitfall in research and teaching in the Nigerian university system. Using data generated from secondary sources, it was found that so many factors are responsible for the constant decay in teaching and research in the Nigerian universities. The paper however found from literature that the high rate of pitfalls in the university education in Nigeria can be significantly attributed to lack of infrastructural facilities, poor staffing and inadequate funding. Consequently, the paper suggests the way forward which includes: provision of adequate and modern facilities (like modern class rooms, computers, modern libraries etc), adequate funding which can be provided through collaboration and partnership with universities abroad and improved creativity in the area of generation and utilization of internal revenues, and finally, attraction of high quality teachers with better salary and good conditions of service into the Nigerian universities.