NOT too long after the University of Lagos (UNILAG) students
protested the sudden death of one of their colleague who was electrocuted,
Oluchi Anekwe, the students yesterday staged another protest over the invasion
of bedbugs in their halls of residence.
The protest, which started in the early hours of Monday, saw
the placard-carrying protesters displaying their tattered mattresses at the
main gate and on the billboards located in the institution.
The displayed mattresses were an eyesore and created a
disgusting scene, while the fuming students blamed university management for
not replacing the old mattresses as at when due.
They also decried the unsanitary conditions of the hostel,
which according to a 300-level student of Chemical Engineering, who preferred
anonymity, should be regularly fumigated for students’ safety and overall
wellbeing.
The two exit gates of the university, which remained shut
for several hours, caused a traffic gridlock in and out of the university.
Giving an insight into the protest, a student who identified
himself as Lanre Dairo, said the protest had started from Mariere hall and
extended to other halls of residence before dawn.
We received a report that at about 3am yesterday, a student
woke in the middle of the night screaming due to the presence of over 100 bedbugs
on his body. Agitated by this, students resorted to protest at that hour. I did
not join because of the time, but some students did.
“We have been battling bed bugs since the beginning of this
session. We have been using ‘Sniper’ to try to get rid of them but the
hazardous smell is only sending many of us to the hospital.”
However, when The Guardian contacted the spokesperson of the
university and Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr. Olagoke Oke, he said efforts
are underway to change the mattresses before the students’ outrage.
His words: “Normally, the mattresses are changed at the
beginning of every session. It needs to be highlighted that plans are at
advanced stage to replace the mattresses after fumigating the hostel at the end
of the second semester examinations scheduled to commence in two weeks’ time.
It is therefore surprising that a group of students will embark on this unruly
act.”
“This unwarranted and unruly act of a group of students is
condemnable and should not be tolerated in a civilised community. Management
has always responded positively to issues affecting welfare of staff and
students and would no longer tolerate any situation that will lead to break
down of law and order. Management urges students to always engage in dialogue
as it is the most fruitful means of conflict resolution.”
He also advised students to learn how to tidy their
surroundings and maintain a healthy environment.
All efforts to reach the students union president, Abiodun
Martins was futile as his phone was switched off.
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