Nigeria: University of Lagos shuts down indefinitely

Academic work at Nigeria’s University of Lagos (Unilag) has been suspended indefinitely over student agitations.

According to Sahara Reporters, management of the university took the decision after students protested on Thursday over poor supply of water and electricity on campus.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer has ironically been hit recently by a fuel shortage which has left scores of vehicles in queues at filling stations.

In a memo which is widely circulating on social media, authorities blamed the utility challenge on “poor municipal services”.

Unilag is shutting down due to the state of the economy? A lot of other institutions should do same. pic.twitter.com/F2Z3THrJxv

— Gideon (@Tobafreshlord) April 8, 2016

The memo added that “a decision to re-open for normal academic activities will be taken as soon as municipal services improve”.

Students were given up to 10am (local time) on Friday, to vacate their halls of residence on campus.

The BBC however reports that the students are protesting this morning again over the decision to shut down the university.

According to a BBC correspondent in Lagos, the supply of the utilities had deteriorated due to the scarcity of fuel, explaining that many institutions have had to rely on generators because of the poor electricity supply.

The closure of the university is trending on twitter with several photos emerging of students scaling walls to leave the campus amid heavy security presence.

Shutdown: Unilag Suspend Activities over Protests, Soldiers Occupy School https://t.co/9VJ1cJUtLs via heraldng pic.twitter.com/e3q49e2F3A

— Nigeria Newsdesk (NigeriaNewsdesk) April 8, 2016

Over 10 patrol vehicles of NGPoliceForce can be sighted in #UNILAG. This is not war! ULSUunified UnilagLife pic.twitter.com/GzhlNUlS5J

— ÀYANFE (tayo_taiwo) April 8, 2016