[JUSTIN] School Fees Hike: UNILAG Students To Reconvene, Kick-Start Total Protests, Agitations After 48 Hours Ultimatum

The Students’ Soludarity Group against tuition fee hike, on Thursday, vow to kick-start total protests, agitations after 48 hours ultimatum to reverse the new tuition fees approved by the school.

On Wednesday, Objectv Media visited scenes of the protests where the students stood their ground and demanded a reversal of the new approved fees.

READ ALSO: Protest: Barr. Ogunlana To Join UNILAG Students To Demand Reversal Of School Fee Hike In Schools

In a statement issued on Thursday, signed by the secretary of the Student’s’ Solidarity Group, Femi Adeyeye, it read “We vehemently condemns the actions of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ogunshola-led management who resorted to the use of armed-to-the-teeth police officers to arrest and harass students participating in a peaceful protest.

“This act represents a grave violation of the rights and freedoms of the students and is a direct affront to the principles of democratic discourse and peaceful assembly. Until yesterday, one would have thought that there are not many Police officers in Nigeria.”

“It was so shameful to see how these Police officers were hustling to arrest protesters like there was a special allowance to be given for the number of protesters each one was able to harass and arrest. We saw this happen first-hand.

“Regrettably, the Prof. Ogunshola-led management of the University of Lagos resorted to the deployment of armed police officers, who shot canisters of tear gas to disrupt the peaceful students protest, leading to the illegal arrest of some of our comrades namely, Adeyeye Olorunfemi, Olatinwo Phillip, Aduwo Ayodele, Giwa Yisa Temitope and others. Their intention was clearly to stifle our voices, instill fear, and deter our peaceful demonstration but they failed WOEFULLY!

“Despite these repressive measures, resilient students, who possess an intimate understanding of the University environment, adeptly outmaneuvered the armed police officers. Unfazed by the intimidation tactics employed by the university management and law enforcement, students promptly strategized to reorganize at the University gate, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the #FeesMustFall struggle.

“We want to restate that the warning protest of yesterday emerged as a necessity after the Management shunned all attempts at dialogue. The management refused to honour the resolution of the meeting held on the 2nd of August, 2023 with the STUDENTS DELEGATION team of the STUDENTS’ SOLIDARITY GROUP AGAINST FEE HIKE.

“Throughout the course of yesterday’s peaceful demonstration, we fervently voiced our demands, which included the immediate and unconditional release of our detained comrades (this happened) and the prompt reversal of the fee increment within 48 hours. This ultimatum was issued with the hope of fostering a constructive dialogue and equitable resolution to this matter.

“As the clock begins to tick on our 48-hour ultimatum, we remain resolute in our commitment to the cause. Should the university administration fail to heed the will of the students and rectify this arbitrary fee increase, we will remobilize for a much larger protest and not just a warning protest.”