Students' Protest Paralyses Commercial Activities At Lagos University

UNILAG Students Protest

Activities of campus vendors at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, yesterday, came to a halt due to students' unrest over what they described as 'exorbitant rates by the vendors.'

The peaceful protest was said to have commenced on Sunday evening.

According to an official of UNILAG vendors association, "some students came yesterday and asked us to lock our shops complaining that our prices are too exorbitant. But they should have resorted to dialogue first before asking us to lock up."

The Assistant General Secretary of the law society, Mr. Dare Adeojo said: "This is a very welcome development, and we are well within our rights.

"We have declared a 24-hour boycott and lock down of the shops within the campus. How can we buy noodles for N80 when it's being sold at N60 outside? And why should pure water be N10?"

Another vendor said: "When we came here in 1996, it cost about N16,000 per annum to rent a shop. About five years ago, the rates moved up.

"Now it costs between N80,000 and N100,000 to rent a shop. The electricity bills are also very high."

Deputy Dean of the university, Dr. A. K. Adebayo, said: "The school management is meeting with some of the student leaders as we speak, and very soon, the matter will be resolved."

"We just instructed that the shops should be closed down to avoid any unwanted incidents in the best interests of everyone involved."