Lecturers and students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) staged a protest on Monday over what they described as an attempt by the Niger State Government to take over the institution’s Bosso Campus in Minna.
The demonstration was led by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), following allegations that the state government had revoked the university’s rights to the land and begun allocating portions of the campus for other projects.
Speaking to journalists during the protest, the ASUU Chairperson of FUT Minna, Prof. Luqman ‘Kunle Oyewobi, criticised the move, saying it lacked due process and transparency.
He stressed that the Bosso Campus is fully functional and not vacant land, noting that it accommodates key academic and administrative facilities that support teaching, research, student housing and other essential services. According to him, any attempt to alter its ownership or operational control would affect thousands of students, academic and non-academic staff, as well as their families.
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Oyewobi maintained that the campus is a federal asset acquired in 1983 after proper consultation and payment to the state government. He argued that any effort by a state authority to assume control of the property without constitutional backing would violate federal laws and undermine the university’s autonomy.
He also rejected claims that the land had been leased temporarily to the university, describing such assertions as inaccurate. Citing a 2014 communication from the National Universities Commission (NUC), he noted that facilities provided by state governments for federal universities are not to revert to the states.
ASUU called on the Federal Government, the National Assembly and the NUC to urgently intervene and reaffirm federal ownership of the Bosso Campus.
In a separate remark, the Vice President of the Students’ Union Government, Mfon Joseph Jonah, said students living in hostels on the campus were anxious about the situation. He appealed for swift action to prevent any disruption to academic activities.
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