THREE days after the President Goodluck Jonathan announced the name change from the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, pockets of street protests against the announcement by the students of the 50-year old institution remain.
Friday’s protests saw the students confronting the police who tried to stop them from taking their protests outside the university gates. As the students pressed ahead with their attempt to protest outside the university premises, policemen stationed at the university gates fired canisters of teargas to disperse them.
News that the university will enter a lockdown mode is emerging, following the decision of a section of the students to continue with street protests over the renaming of the institution after the late Moshood Abiola.
Dean of Student Affairs of the university, Olukayode Amund, said the authorities had allowed students to remain on campus after the initial directive to shut down the university on the belief that the students would suspend their protests to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
“The move to enforce the closure becomes necessary as a section of the students are marching outside the campus to protest,” Prof Amund said, adding that the directive would be enforced today.
Already, the management of one of the female hostels, called Honours Hostel, has already cut power supply and told students to pack their bags and leave.
Today’s protest is the third protest carried out by the Unilag students over the renaming of the institution as Moshood Abiola University.
State Security Service agents are also reported to be on scene in the area, perhaps due of the anticipated presence of President Goodluck Jonathan in Lagos for the event of the commissioning of a Nigerian-built warship at the Nigerian Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island.