FUT Minna Alumni Association Demands Federal Intervention in Campus Dispute
The national leadership of the Federal University of Technology Minna Alumni Association has issued a strong appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to intervene urgently and prevent Niger State Governor Muhammed Umar Bago from taking control of the institution's Bosso campus. During a press conference held in Abuja, the alumni association expressed grave concerns about the potential seizure of university property by state authorities.
Historical Ownership Claims and Current Utilization
Prof. Shola Gabriel Solomon, the National President of the FUT Minna Alumni Association, provided detailed historical context regarding the Bosso campus ownership. He explained that in 1982, the university's pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jonathan O. Ndagi, formally approached the then Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Awwal Ibrahim, requesting the release of secondary schools in Minna to facilitate the newly established university's operations.
The university secured outright ownership with adequate compensation at that time, Prof. Solomon emphasized, enabling the state government to construct additional educational facilities without requiring extra funding. He firmly dismissed assertions that the Bosso campus remains unused, noting that it currently accommodates multiple functioning departments, advanced laboratories, lecture theatres, a staff school, residential quarters for staff, banking facilities, a Juma'at mosque, and the Chapel of Grace.
Warning of Dangerous Precedent for Federal Institutions
The alumni association issued a stark warning that the Niger State government's actions, if left unchecked, could establish a dangerous precedent affecting federal institutions throughout Nigeria. Prof. Solomon articulated the broader implications, stating that if a state government can unilaterally evict a federal university from its campus, disrupting academic programs for thousands of students and jeopardizing the livelihoods of hundreds of staff members without due process, then no federal institution remains secure.
This represents an assault not merely on FUT Minna but on the fundamental federal character principle and national unity, he declared. The association has strongly urged the university's governing council and administrative management to initiate immediate legal proceedings to safeguard the Bosso campus, pledging comprehensive moral, financial, and organizational support to defend the institution's property rights.
Commitment to Legal Action and Alumni Mobilization
Prof. Solomon underscored the alumni association's unwavering commitment to pursuing all available legal avenues, including civil litigation, constitutional challenges, and potential international remedies if necessary. We are fully prepared to mobilize our members across Nigeria and the diaspora, engage the most skilled legal professionals, and pursue this matter to the Supreme Court of Nigeria if required, he affirmed.
The alumni president further appealed to former and current students, academic and administrative staff, retired personnel, and all supporters of FUT Minna worldwide to demonstrate solidarity with the institution during this critical period. The Bosso Campus represents more than mere real estate—it constitutes sacred ground, the foundational site of our academic development and the birthplace of careers that have significantly contributed to Nigeria's progress and global advancement. We will not surrender this heritage to political maneuvering, Prof. Solomon stressed with determination.
Call for Immediate Federal Government Action
The alumni association has formally urged President Tinubu, the Honourable Minister of Education, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission to intervene immediately in this escalating situation. Additionally, they have called upon the National Assembly to summon Governor Bago and relevant state officials to provide explanations for what they describe as unilateral and reckless action against a federal educational institution.
The integrity and autonomy of federal institutions must be vigorously defended at the highest levels of government, Prof. Solomon concluded, emphasizing the critical importance of preserving institutional stability and academic continuity. The alumni association remains resolute in its mission to protect the university's assets through all lawful means available, signaling a potentially prolonged legal and political confrontation over the Bosso campus's future.
