As 19 students die and over 70 professors resign, Reps rescue UNIMAID from closure

As terrorist attacks left 19 students of the University of Maiduguri dead within the first six months of the year, a situation that is also suspected to have culminated in the resignation of over 70 academic staff, the House of Reps have agreed that the school must not be shut down.

UNIMAID is considered one of Nigeria’s foremost second-generation universities.

The House of Representatives on Thursday therefore called on the Federal Government to deploy urgent security measures to halt the increasing suicide attacks on the university.

The Reps said such a step would avert the imminent closure of the institution because of regular assaults on it by Boko Haram insurgents.

The House also said beefing up security around the institution, including building a perimeter fence, would reduce the loss of lives and the number of academics leaving the school.

The House specifically asked security agencies, particularly the military, the police and the Department of State Services to submit “a comprehensive plan of action to maintain constant security of the university.”

The lawmakers expressed concerns as they debated a motion on the “need to avert the imminent closure of the University of Maiduguri due to rising insecurity occasioned by the spate of suicide bomb attacks.”

The motion was co-sponsored by a member from Borno State, Mr. Mohammed Monguno, and 15 others.

The lawmakers warned that the government would be aiding Boko Haram to achieve its aim by allowing the university to shut down.

Members noted that ‘Boko Haram’ means “western education is forbidden, evil,” a meaning that would be accomplished by allowing the university to shut down.

“Security must be beefed up and every measure should be taken to keep this university running.

“If we allow UNIMAID to be closed, then the insurgents would celebrate it as victory for their cause.

“This cannot happen,” Monguno told the House.

Apart from the death of Prof. Aliyu Mani and two students of the university in the January 16, 2017 suicide attacks, Monguno recalled that UNIMAID had been hit in five other strikes between January and June 25.

In all, he said, “19 students and staff had died since January this year.”
Monguno added, “The House recalls that UNIMAID used to be the jewel of and the main signpost of academics in Nigeria, boasting of and attracting some of the best professors from across the globe.

“The House is aware that over 70 professors, several students and staff left the university at the height of the insecurity on the campus to other universities within and outside the country out of fear.”

Another member, Mr. Mohammed Sani-Abdu, drew the attention of the House to the impact of Boko Haram attacks on the institution, citing the current ranking of universities by the National Universities Commission.

He said, “Mr. Speaker, from number six, seven position in the NUC ranking of universities, UNIMAID is now number 47 in the latest ranking.

“This tell us the seriousness of the situation we have on our hands.

“UNIMAID is home to many research centres and collaboration between Nigeria and other institutions abroad, particularly on environmental, desert, Lake Chad Basin and arid zone studies.

“Many visiting professors from across the globe were using UNIMAID as the hub for research. But, we can all see what Boko Haram has done today.”

In agreement, the Chairman, House Committee on Rules/Business, Mr. Orker Jev, noted that the insurgents would target another university if they succeeded in shutting UNIMAID down.

“They will advance to the next university and launch attacks if we succumb to pressure to shut down the institution.

“If UNIMAID survived at the height of insurgency, there is no justification to contemplate closing it at a time Boko Haram has been decimated,” Jev stated.

Members passed the motion in a unanimous voice vote at the session presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara.

PUNCH