UNILAG Students Protest Hostel Fee Hike
Students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Idi-Araba campus, have protested a significant hike in their hostel fees.
The affected students, primarily from the College of Medicine and the Faculty of Pharmacy, are calling for an immediate reversal of the fee increase.
It was gathered that the school management recently proposed new hostel fees of N80,000 for two semesters and N100,000 for a full academic year. This represents a sharp rise from the previous N65,000 agreed upon last session.
Chanting slogans like “Change the memo, we no dey go,” the protesting students expressed their frustration over the sudden hike, which they see as unfair, especially given previous agreements. They have vowed to continue the protest until the university management reverses the fee increase.
In response to the protests, UNILAG authorities issued an eviction notice, ordering students to vacate the hostels.
Despite this, the protesters have remained defiant, refusing to leave until their demands are met.
The situation has escalated as police officers have been deployed to monitor the protest and prevent any violence.
However, tensions remain high, with students standing firm in their demand for a fee reduction.
A notice from Olusegun Akinnagbe, Principal Assistant Secretary of the Students Affairs Unit, directed non-medical graduating and undergraduate students to vacate the hostels by 12 noon on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
The notice also stated that students wishing to stay longer must apply in writing through their Head of Department, with applications due by October 28, 2024.
Efforts by newsmen to reach UNILAG’s Communication Unit head, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, for a response were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered.
