UNIUYO Closed Indefinitely as Students Demand VC’s Sacking
Students of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, have demanded for the sacking of their Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Comfort Ekpo.
The students, who protested on Wednesday against the introduction of N2, 000 General Studies fee and N200 transport fare to the main campus, said Ekpo “is incompetent in all ramifications.”
They claimed that there had been administrative lapses as the institution was usually enveloped by darkness at night coupled with poor sanitation and unavailable water supply.
The students, who locked themselves inside the institution because of the heavy presence of policemen, threw stones, bottles and iron after the policemen shot tear-gas canisters at them.
An engineering student, Emem Etim, told our correspondent that the management’s decision to introduce fees for GST and transportation caused the protest.
She said the increase was without consultation with the students.
She explained, “The fact is that we do not want this woman (Comfort Ekpo) in this school. As long as this woman continues to run this institution, students are not going to find things easy.
“UNIUYO is one of the most expensive institution in the country. We can’t continue to remain silent in fear. We must demand our rights.”
Another student, Stephen Chukwuemeka, said, “This is not the proper way to administer an institution. It is high time students put a stop to all these nonsense we are having across Nigerian universities.”
The Director of the university’s information, Mr. Godfrey Essien, said he was on sick leave when our correspondent called him.
Attempts to reach the Dean, Students’ Affairs, Prof. Eno Ibanga, proved abortive as calls to his telephone line indicated that it had been switched off.
But the state Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Etim Dickson, said police were not aware of any protest in the university.
Meanwhile, the Registrar of the institution, Prof. Edak Umondak, announced on Radio Nigeria, Atlantic FM, Uyo, that the school had been closed down indefinitely. She said all the students had been ordered to vacate the university premises immediately.
