ABU chases students stranded due to naira notes scarcity off campus
Students from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who were forced out of their dormitories are currently stranded with nowhere to go due to a lack of physical cash, electronic or enough commercial vehicles to transport those who are ready to travel to their various locations.
According to a circular signed by the University’s Accommodation Officer, Jamilu Wada, sent to all Hall Administrators, dated 21st February 2023, and titled, “Closure of All Halls of Residence”, “This is to inform you that as a result of the closure of the university for the conduct of the 2023 General Elections, all Halls of Residence shall be closed from Wednesday, 22 February 2023, to Tuesday 14th, March 2023”.
“You are therefore requested to ensure that all students that reside in the Halls of Residence vacate latest by 12:00 noon on Thursday 23rd, February 2023.
However, the majority of the students who are currently stranded at the university’s main entrances and the university town – Samaru do not have somewhere to go and hang out because they do not have the money to travel or vehicles to get them to their various destinations.
Some of the students who are from the southern parts of Nigeria told Education Monitor that they actually wish to travel home, but, they don’t have enough transport money that can take them home.
Others faulted the university management for chasing them out of their hostels, just in the name of elections.
They described the decision to chase them out of the hostels as unjust and unfair, because they are legitimate tenants who paid for one-year accommodation, and therefore do not deserve to be treated as defaulted tenants, or, as those whose tenancy has expired, and they have continued to live in the hostels illegitimately.
Neptune Prime reports that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, issued a directive to all universities in the country to effect a three weeks holiday period between the 22nd of February and the 14th of March, 2023 to enable students fully participate in the February/March general election.
