Photos: ASUU and Students Demonstrate Against Niger Government's Attempt to Take Over University Campus

Lecturers and students from the Federal University of Technology, Minna protested on Monday against a purported initiative by the Niger State Government to assume control of the Bosso Campus located in Minna.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) led the protest, which erupted over claims that the Niger State Government had revoked the university's rights to the land and started redistributing sections of the campus for new projects.

During the demonstration, ASUU's Chairperson for the FUT Minna branch, Prof. Luqman ‘Kunle Oyewobi, addressed the media, expressing that the government's actions lacked both transparency and proper procedure.

“The Bosso Campus is not unoccupied land. It contains essential academic and administrative facilities that underpin teaching, research, student housing, and vital services. Any interruptions in its ownership or management will directly impact thousands of students, educators, administrative staff, and their families,” he stated.

He emphasized that the campus has been a federal asset since it was acquired in 1983, following appropriate consultations and compensation to the state government.

“The land and infrastructures associated with the university are federal property held in trust for the advancement of national education. Any effort by a state authority to commandeer or impose control over such assets, devoid of mandated constitutional and legal processes, is a severe infringement of federal regulations and institutional independence,” he elaborated.

Prof. Oyewobi rejected assertions suggesting that the Bosso Campus was temporarily leased to the university, labeling such claims as historically erroneous.

He referenced a 2014 directive from the National Universities Commission (NUC), which reinforced that facilities provided by state governments for federal institutions are not subject to reversion to the states.

ASUU urged the Federal Government, the National Assembly, and the NUC to promptly step in and reaffirm the federal ownership of the campus.

Separately, Mfon Joseph Jonah, Vice President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), conveyed that many students residing in the Bosso Campus hostels are troubled by the situation and called for immediate intervention to safeguard academic activities from disruption.