Students at FUPRE Protest Alleged Tuition Fee Hike
Students from the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) in Effurun, Delta State, took to the streets on Wednesday to protest what they claim is an increase in tuition fees by the university management. The demonstration involved barricading the busy East-West Road and other access routes to the university campus. Protesters chanted solidarity songs and carried placards with messages condemning the alleged fee hike.
The Student Union Government (SUG), the official student leadership body, denied any involvement in the protest. The SUG President, identified as Etinosa, stated that the union was not part of the demonstrations. He told journalists, “The SUG is not part of the protest. I have spoken to the students and asked them to calm down. I have forwarded their complaints to the management, but now both sides have put me in the middle. To be very honest, this thing is tiring.”
The Vice-Chancellor of FUPRE, Prof. Ezekiel Agbalagba, responded to the incident by referring to the protesters as “faceless people” who are not recognized by the university’s official student leadership. He emphasized that the SUG is not associated with the actions taken by the demonstrators.
“They are not the Student Union leadership; the SUG is not part of what they are doing,” Agbalagba said in a telephone interview. He added that negotiations between the university management and the SUG regarding a potential review of school fees were still ongoing, with no final decision reached yet.
“We have been meeting with the student union leaders — about five meetings so far — and discussions have not been concluded,” he explained. “At our last meeting, someone got hold of a draft document of our discussions and circulated it online as the new school charges. That is false.”
According to the VC, the management has decided to suspend further meetings until after the ongoing examinations. However, he mentioned that talks would resume next week to continue the negotiations.
“This morning, I heard that some people blocked the road. The SUG president has already made a disclaimer. Those behind this are faceless people, and what is trending on social media does not reflect the position of the university management,” he said.
Agbalagba also claimed that the protests were politically motivated. “It is all about politics to discredit me. Some people may have influenced a few of them, but they are not the recognized student leaders,” he added.
Key Points from the Incident
- Protest Details: Students staged a protest over alleged tuition fee hikes, blocking major roads leading to the university.
- Student Union Response: The SUG President denied any involvement, urging students to remain calm and forwarding their concerns to the management.
- Vice-Chancellor’s Statement: Prof. Agbalagba labeled the protesters as “faceless people” and emphasized that the SUG was not involved.
- Ongoing Negotiations: Discussions between the university and the SUG regarding possible fee revisions are still in progress.
- Misinformation Circulation: A draft document from the meetings was shared online, falsely suggesting a new fee structure.
- Suspension of Meetings: Talks were paused until after the current examination period, with plans to resume next week.
- Political Motivation Claim: The VC suggested that the protests were driven by political motives aimed at discrediting him.
