By: Adelowo Oladipo, Minna
Staff and students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna), on Monday staged a peaceful protest over what they described as the alleged takeover of the institution’s Bosso Campus by Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago.
The demonstrators gathered at the Bosso Campus carrying placards calling for transparency, due process and respect for institutional autonomy. Protesters expressed concern that the reported action could disrupt academic activities and undermine the independence of the university.
The Capacity, our correspondent, gathered that Comrade Lanre Sadiq Ishaq, reports that some staff members alleged the move was initiated without adequate consultation with the university’s management and governing council. They called on the Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders to intervene urgently and clarify the status of the property.
Student representatives also voiced fears that the development could adversely affect lectures, research activities and ongoing academic programmes. They urged the state government to engage the university community in dialogue to prevent further escalation.
In an interview with the Newsmen, Comrade Lanre Sadiq Ishaq, spoke with the Registrar of the university, Mallam Danladi, who provided background to the ownership of the Bosso Campus land.
According to the Registrar, although the Niger State Government recently communicated that the land was leased to the university for 40 years, the institution maintains that it was acquired on a permanent basis.
He explained that when the university was established in 1993, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jonathan Ndagi, approached the then Niger State Governor, His Excellency, former Governor Awwal Ibrahim, now the Emir of Suleja ,to secure a suitable site for the new federal institution,adding that the Federal Government College in Bosso was suggested, and the university management reportedly paid ₦2.8 million at the time for the land.
“The land was acquired on a permanent basis,” the Registrar stated, stressing that the university also purchased additional surrounding properties, including the popular White House building and Amajo Bakery, among others.
Mallam Danladi said he was surprised by the State Government’s claim that the property was leased for 40 years. He disclosed that following earlier correspondence, the university leadership received a call directing the incumbent Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta, to report to the Bosso Campus, where the Deputy Governor,Comrade Yakubu Garba was said to be present on the directive of the Governor to take over the premises.
The Vice-Chancellor, he noted, requested time to consult key stakeholders, stressing that the decision was not his alone to make.
The Registrar further emphasised that the Bosso Campus remains fully operational. Facilities currently operating there include the School of Science and Technology Education, the Centre for Disaster and Risk Management, which runs Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s programmes, the Centre for Human Settlement and Urban Development, which offers a Master’s programme; the University Staff Clinic, the Model College, the Centre for Preliminary Studies for IJMB and remedial programmes, as well as the staff school and several other key units.
On the issue of a Certificate of Occupancy, Mallam Danladi stated that most tertiary institutions established by Federal decree, operate based on their establishing Acts and do not necessarily possess a conventional Certificate of Occupancy for their lands.
As of the time of filing this report, the Niger State Government had yet to issue an official response to the allegations. University authorities said they were awaiting decisions from stakeholders and the Vice-Chancellor before taking further action.
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