LASU tightens security as students resume

Scores of final year students of the Lagos State University, Ojo, on Monday resumed as directed by the institution’s management.

However, there was heavy security presence on campus.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the students were seen discussing in groups.

The authorities on January 23, 2014 shut the institution following a violent student demonstration. The students were protesting against the shutting down of the school’s registration portal.

The management, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, directed the reopening for the final year students on February 24.

The Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Kabir Akinyemi, told NAN that the university’s portal had been reopened for the final year students alone.

Akinyemi said the reopening would enable them to register online ahead of their second semester examinations.

The don said writing the examinations would also enable the students to participate in the June batch of National Youth Service Corps programme.

He said, “We had to consider the final year students because they have overstayed in the school since the ASUU strike had earlier affected them.

“We do not want to prolong their graduation.”

Akinyemi also said there was increase in security operations in the university to forestall any further protest.

He said, “We do not want anybody to disrupt the resumption of the final year students, as some group had threatened to do so.

“If any group wants to protest, they should go to the appropriate authorities and do so, but not by disrupting academic activities on campus.”

The dean urged other returning  students to wait for their dates of resumption and keep the peace.

Meanwhile, the newly admitted students for the 2013/2014 session are to resume on March 10, while other returning students are to report on April 1.

Source: Punch