Fuel Crisis Prompts University Of Lagos Shutdown, Angry Students Refuse To Vacate Campus Lagos

BBC

Hundreds of angry students are refusing to leave the campus of the University of Lagos in Nigeria – despite the management saying they must do so by 10:00 local time.

BBC

Media reports continue:

Chanting and drumming, some of them are calling for the vice-chancellor to resign.

They are angered that the campus has been closed after student complaints about a lack of electricity and water – exacerbated by the current fuel shortages.

Only journalists are being allowed in to speak to the students. Outside the gate, the police have gathered.

Unilag - the acronym by which the University of Lagos is known - is trending in Nigeria after the management decided to close down the institution.

It took this decision on Thursday after protests by students complaining about the poor supply of water and electricity on campus.

Twitter credit: Gideon ‏@Tobafreshlord

Correspondents in Lagos says such amenities had deteriorated because of the scarcity of fuel, with many institutions having to rely on generators because of the poor electricity supply.

The ongoing fuel crisis was also given as a reason for shutting down the campus as students living off site were finding it difficult to travel, the university statement said.

UNILAG Shut Indefinitely Over Protests

Daily Trust reports that as a result of recurring protests by students of University of Lagos (UNILAG) over water and power outage, the varsity management has announced immediate closure of the school indefinitely.

This decision was communicated through the varsity Newsletter known as “Information flash” in the early hours of Friday.

The management's decision is said to be sequel to the decision of the UNILAG Senate which held an emergency meeting on Thursday over recurring protests being staged by varsity students.

“The Senate of the University of Lagos at an emergency meeting held on Thursday, April 7, 2016, considered the situation on campus occasioned by the on-going agitation of the student body over poor electricity and water supply in the community, and the difficulty faced by the large number of students living off campus to attend classes as a result of the fuel crisis. Senate noted that the problem of poor municipal services is a national issue that the Government at both State and Federal level are addressing.

The statement added that in order to forestall “further breakdown of law and order on campus” the Senate has resolved until further notice that: “all academic activities on campus be suspended with immediate effect”.
The statement also added that: “the University is therefore closed with immediate effect, all students are to vacate the various halls of residence immediately, no student should remain in the halls of residence after 10:am on Friday , April 8, 2016, a decision to re-open for normal academic activities will be taken as soon as municipal services improve and all members of the University community are enjoined to go about their normal activities as adequate security measures have been put in place.”