UniAbuja Closed Indefinitely

The authorities of University of Abuja yesterday closed down the University indefinitely over students’ rampage that prevented the conduct of the Second Semester examinations.

The Second Semester exams were billed to commence on 19th of November, but could not hold because of the two-day protest that led to the shutdown of the institution by the University management.

What started as a protest by students of Engineering Faculty over the failure of the University management to secure accreditation of their programme suspended by the Federal Government, had yesterday snowballed into serious demonstration and barricades of major roads in Gwagwalada town by the students.

Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor James Adelabu in a terse statement signed by the University Registrar, Mallam M.B. Modibbo in Abuja, said the university was closed down to forestall unpleasant consequences. He, therefore, ordered all the students to vacate the two campuses of the university before 4pm yesterday.

The statement reads: “Giving the prevailing situation on the campus and potential threat to the peace and security, the Vice-Chancellor on behalf of the University Senate has approved the close down of the university.

“All students are therefore, directed to vacate the university campuses before 4pm today (yesterday),” it said.

LEADERSHIP reports that the programmes suspended by the Federal Government are Engineering, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.

Information Officer of the University, Mr. Waziri Garba told LEADERSHIP that the Management of the university met and took decision to close down the university as the situation was getting out of hand.

He disclosed that the protest, which started on Monday, was mainly by students of engineering, who claimed that other faculties were ahead of the Engineering Faculty in the accreditation process.

He said the protest came as a surprise to the university management in spite of all efforts being intensified to ensure the accreditation of all the faculties as promised by the vice Chancellor.