The management of the University of Lagos on Thursday ordered the immediate closure of the institution following students’ protests over epileptic power and water supply.
In a circular issued Thursday, the school said the closure was also due to the difficulties faced by the “large number of students” living off campus to attend classes as a result of the lingering fuel crisis.
“Senate noted that the problem of poor municipal service is a national issue that the governments at both state and federal level are addressing,” the circular stated.
The situation had been brewing since Wednesday when Students first blocked access paths in the school, but the protests were mild. Things reached a head on Thursday with a full-scale protest erupting.
Staff and students were denied ingress and egress from the school by protesting students. They also blocked the major road leading into the university, including access to the school’s Senate building and the Assembly Hall where Rahman Bello, the Vice Chancellor, was attending an event.
Those who did not want to take part in the protest were threatened with assault by angry protesters.
The management of the school has therefore swung into action, ordering the students to vacate their halls of residence immediately and shutting down academic exercises.
“A decision to re-open for normal academic activities will be made as soon as municipal services improve,” the circular said.
“All members of the University community are enjoined to go about their normal activities as adequate security measures have been put in place.”
It is reported that at the moment, Soldiers are on the premises to further prevent things from boiling over, the Unilag student union (ULSU) are standing their ground refusing to leave the premises and threatening those who want to.
