UNILAG students embarked on proposed protest amidst heavy downpour
Students of University of Lagos held a protest yesterday despite the heavy rain, the protest which was tagged #OccupyUNILAG was held against what was deemed the repression of students.
The protest which was also tagged ‘#SaveUNILAGCoalition the Management of the institution in the best means they can’.
The students called for freedom of expression and assembly and demand for reinstatement of the UNILAG 11 unconditionally.
#OccupyUNILAG protesters also took to social media using their Twitter stating that, “Same institutions that teach about freedom of expression as a fundamental right goes against it by rusticating #Unilag11. Please #SaveUnilag. It is high time Nigerian Students are respected taken seriously.”
The students also lamented about the poor state of their hostel demanding better welfare. The students also shared photos of rooms in their hostels flooded during the rain.
As a result of the protest, movements in and out of the University were restricted by the school management as the school gate was locked.
Other demands the students include; End to all anti-democracy and anti-students policy, restoration of the UNILAG student’ union, improved welfare conditions on campus, stop victimisation of Postgraduate students, reverse all outrageous accommodation fee and fictitious laboratory fee.
Meanwhile, Deputy Registrar, Information Unit of the institution, Toyin Adebule, in a telephone conversation with The Guardian, denied that the protesters are UNILAG students.
According to him “The protesters are activists and rusticated students who lost their case in court. Now that they have lost in court, they put up the jankara protest. We have issued a press statement to that effect informing the public that the University of Lagos students are not protesting. The gathering outside the gate consists of rusticated students and allies. They have challenged the university in court and the case has been struck out.
