UniAbuja students lockout FCT Minister over Students’ Bus, others

STUDENTS of the University of Abuja
under the aegis, FCT National Association of
Nigeria Students, NANS, yesterday locked
out the Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala
Mohammed and other government officials
over the refusal of the administration to
purchase for them a School bus.
The protesting students who barricaded the
entrance and exit gates of the FCTA
Secretariat in Area 11, Garki District, Abuja
for about some hours on Thursday,
demanded that the FCTA must purchase a
vehicle for their association immediately to
enable them attend their various
conventions; develop the University of
Abuja’s Unity Park; solve water supply
challenges at the University of Abuja’s mini
campus and furnish the common room of the
NANS Chairman.
The protesting students, led by the Chairman
of the University of Abuja Chapter of the
National Association of Nigerian Students
(NANS), Comrade Friday Omadewu Adayi,
laid siege to the FCTA Secretariat from
12noon till yesterday evening insisting that
they would not leave the place unless the
FCTA met their demands.



Following the crippling of business activities
and to avoid any breakdown of law and
order, selected leaders of the students later
met with FCT officials led by the FCT
Education Secretary, Alhaji Kabir Usman who
promised to look into their demands.
The FCTA was of the view that since the
University was a federal one, most of
demands were either untenable or should
have been pursued through the Federal
Ministry of Education which administers the
University of Abuja.
The Secretary announced that the request by
the students for a donation of a vehicle to the
FCT NANS was receiving attention and would
be granted if funds become available, adding
that while the FCTA acknowledged the right
of the students to request for assistance, it
abhors any action taken to disrupt
government activities.
Condemning the act, the FCTA noted that it
was wrong for the students to attempt to use
force to compel government to fulfill requests
that are not statutory responsibilities of the
FCTA, just as it described the protest as
unjustifiable and embarrassing.
In a statement signed later by the Special
Assistant, Media to the Minister, Nosike
Ogbuenyi, the FCTA said, ” The point should
be stressed that it is not part of FCTA’s
official responsibility to furnish the NANS
Chairman’s common room at the University
of Abuja or to provide internal infrastructure
in Federal universities. Similarly, government
action on the kind of demands made by the
students is discretionary and dependent on
resource availability.
” Nonetheless, the FCTA cherishes robust
relationship with NANS even though it frowns
at any attempt to hold it to ransom by
students over welfare and logistics demands
by individuals or groups.
“The FCTA advises the students to desist
from lawless acts like blocking of gates.
However, the Administration will continue to
assist students through its various
mechanisms including award of
scholarships. It will equally continue to give
logistics support to students’ organizations
such as NANS provided that due process is
followed and sufficient notice given in all
cases. While we are doing this, we call on
parents to always watch their children and
wards closely by calling them to order
whenever the need arises.
“The FCT Administration through its Water
Board has provided potable and wholesome
water to the residents of the Federal Capital
Territory including Gwagwalada township by
the recent commissioning of the Lower
Usuma Dam Phases III & IV Water Treatment
Plants and therefore it is the duty of
individuals, institutions and corporate
organizations to undertake water reticulation
in their areas of abode.