Anxiety in UNILAG over proposed students’ protest

Vanguard News

The recent hike in the fee payable by students of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, may lead to a confrontation between the students and the management of the institution, as the students have concluded plans to embark on a protest over the issue on Wednesday.

Sources told Vanguard that the students are being coordinated by their faculty leaders since the university have no central student union government.

But to ward off the protest and prevent any breakdown of law and order, the management of the institution, through the Office of the Dean of Students Affairs, DSA, has issued a statement advising the students to be wary of being used by people who”do not mean well” for the university.

The students are planning to kick against the hike in fee announced by the management recently, which saw an average UNILAG student being asked to pay over N190,000 as against the previous regime of a little over N19,000.

In the notice put up by the office of the DSA, the university said, “The management of the University of Lagos notes with concern the call for protest on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, over the review of obligatory charges by the university being planned by those who do not mean well for University of Lagos.

“We want to reiterate that the university is not against lawful and peaceful protests by students or any other law abiding citizens or group of people.

“However, the management of University of Lagos will not be deterred to take the necessary legitimate steps to protect the lives and property of the institution by those masquerading as defender of students’ rights and interest in a bid to cause civil unrest.

“In light of the foregoing, we would like to advise our students as follows: That planned protest could easily be hijacked by unscrupulous elements, looking for opportunities to cause civil unrest and unleash terror on law-abiding citizens or those who want to score cheap political points.