FUT Minna Alumni urge Tinubu to halt alleged bid to take over Bosso campus
The Alumni Association of the Federal University of Technology, Minna has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Visitor to the institution, to intervene in what it described as a
The Alumni Association of the Federal University of Technology, Minna has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Visitor to the institution, to intervene in what it described as a planned forceful takeover of the university’s Bosso campus by Muhammed Umar Bago.
National President of the association, Professor Shola Gabriel Solomon, made the appeal at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
He also called on the National Assembly, the Minister of Education, and the National Universities Commission to prevail on the Niger State governor to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order.
The association accused the state government of attempting to “forcefully and illegally” assume control of the Bosso campus, four decades after the Federal Government paid for the property.
It vowed to defend the university’s assets by all lawful means, stating that it was prepared to pursue civil, constitutional and international remedies where necessary.
Solomon recalled that at the institution’s establishment in 1982, its pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Jonathan O. Ndagi, approached the then governor of Niger State, Awwal Ibrahim, for the release of the former St. Malachy’s Teachers’ College, Bosso, to enable the university to commence academic activities.
According to him, "After due consideration by the Niger State Government, the Federal University of Technology, Minna, was offered Teachers' College Bosso — the former St. Malachy's Teachers' College — with the understanding that adequate and reasonable compensation would be paid. This offer was accepted, and a formal agreement was reached at a joint meeting involving representatives of the Niger State Ministries of Education and Works, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
Adding that, " At that joint meeting, it was formally agreed that the sum of TWO MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND NAIRA (₦2,800,000.00) would be paid to the Niger State Government as full and adequate compensation for the property. The Niger State Government formally accepted this payment and, in consideration thereof, released the Teachers' College Bosso to the Federal University of Technology, Minna. This transaction was a completed commercial and legal act — not a temporary loan, not a grace arrangement, and certainly not a lease that would expire."
But, the Niger State government claimed that the campus was leased to the university for 40 years. Hence, eviction notices were issued to the university last year.
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Aside from challenging the claim of the state government, the association faulted the manner in which the government has proceeded —issuing an arbitrary eviction notice with a mere few weeks' notice to vacate a property housing an active university campus with thousands of students and staff.
"This is unconscionable, illegal, and a gross violation of due process. The forcible seizure of a Federal Government institution's property by a State Government is also a brazen violation of the constitutional delineation of federal and state powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)."
The association also picked holes in the allegation by governor that the Bosso Campus has not been in use, Solomon maintained that the campus is currently a home to some departments, laboratories, lecture theaters, staff school, staff quarters, Bank, Juma'at Mosque, Chapel of Grace and many other facilities.
"We wish to draw the attention of the Nigerian public, the National Assembly, the Federal Executive Council, the National Universities Commission, and the international academic community to the dangerous precedent that the Niger State Government's action seeks to set.
"If a state government can unilaterally decide to evict a Federal University from its campus, disrupting the academic programmes of thousands of students and the livelihoods of hundreds of staff members without a lawful basis or due process, no Federal institution operating within any state in Nigeria is safe. This is an assault not just on FUT Minna but on the federal character principle and the unity of this nation."
To this end, the association called on "the Governing Council and Management of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, to take immediate and decisive legal steps to protect the Bosso Campus and all its assets from expropriation. We commit our full moral, financial, and organizational support to the legal defence of the university's property rights.
"We are prepared to mobilize our members in Nigeria and in the diaspora, engage the finest legal minds available, and pursue this matter to its conclusion at every level of the judiciary, including the Supreme Court of Nigeria, if necessary.
"The Alumni Association also extends a solemn appeal to former students, current students, members of staff, retired staff, and well-wishers of FUT Minna across the globe to stand in solidarity with their alma mater at this critical hour.
"The Bosso Campus is not just real estate — it is sacred ground, the cradle of our academic formation, the birthplace of careers that have contributed to the development of Nigeria and the world. We will not surrender it to political brinkmanship and constitutional lawlessness.
"We wish to serve notice on all parties — the Niger State Government, its officials, agents, and any privies — that the Federal University of Technology, Minna Alumni 4Association will leave absolutely no stone unturned in the defence of the university's assets at any location, at any time, and by every lawful means available. We are monitoring this situation closely, documenting every action taken by the state government, and are prepared to pursue civil, constitutional, and international remedies as the circumstances demand. The law is on our side, history is on our side, and justice will prevail.
"We call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu (GCFR), the Honourable Minister of Education, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission to immediately call Governor Bago to other as we will not leave any stone unturned and will employ every possible avenues to fight this unlawful course of action by the Governor.
"We call on the National Assembly to summon the Governor of Niger State and relevant state officials to appear before appropriate legislative committees to explain this unilateral and reckless action. The integrity of federal institutions must be defended at the highest levels of government."
