Controversy Persists as Niger Govt Move to Reclaim Minna Varsity Campus

Controversy has continued to trail the move by the Niger State Government to reclaim the Bosso Campus of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna).

The dispute, which reportedly began in 2025, came to public attention following a joint protest by lecturers and students last Monday.

In a letter dated October 3, 2025, signed by Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, the state government claimed that the campus—formerly a missionary school—was handed over to the state government and subsequently leased to FUT Minna in 1980.

Another letter, dated November 27, 2025, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, gave the university until December 1, 2025, to vacate the campus to avert “any unpleasant development.”

Feeling threatened, lecturers and students staged a protest last week, insisting the campus was acquired and paid for, not leased, and urged the state government to halt its move.

Governor Bago, in an interview with TV media, maintained that the state government holds both the Certificate of Occupancy and ownership of the Bosso Campus.

He said the state intends to use the campus for medical students of the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBB University), Lapai.

“It is unfortunate that the Vice-Chancellor has condescended to the issue of demonstration.

“The Bosso Campus is a property of the Niger State Government. Ibrahim Babangida pleaded with the state government when he was setting up his university in 1985, and it was taken for a 30-year lease.

“Niger State ceded it to FUT for a temporary site. The permanent site has been in use for the last 15 years,” Bago said.

He explained that FUT Minna has not fully utilised the campus, apart from a staff school, and that the state only intends a gradual transition to accommodate medical students.

“We said let our medical students use the laboratories, hostels, and lecture theatres. They are not running any programme there. Some of the laboratories are decaying because termites are eating the furniture. Why are people being selfish?” he added.

The governor emphasised that there is no forceful eviction planned and that discussions with the university were cordial.

He also revealed that the Federal Minister of Education had been briefed and had advised the state to commence its programme.

“The C of O is ours. The land belongs to us. Even if FUT developed it, the agreement was to develop and exit after 30 years. That time has elapsed. We are only asking for co-sharing,” Bago said.

The governor’s move reportedly stems from concerns that the pioneer 300-level medical students at IBB University could not continue their studies due to the absence of a teaching hospital for clinical training.

In response, FUT Minna, through a circular signed by the Registrar and Secretary to university council, Danladi Mallam, insisted that the university’s Bosso campus was permanently acquired and legally belongs to the university.

“Recent correspondence from the Niger State Government, indicating intention to take over the Bosso Campus on the claim that the land was leased and that the university has relocated to its Gidan Kwano site, is inconsistent with the historical and legal position of the property,” the circular stated.

The university noted that the campus still houses vital units, including the School of Science and Technology, the Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies, the Centre for Human Settlement and Urban Development, the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, laboratories, University Health Services, a staff school, and other operational units.

Citing minutes from the second council meeting held on September 27, 1983, the university highlighted that the pioneer vice-chancellor formally briefed council members on the acquisition of the former Teachers’ College from the Niger State Government, including payment of compensation. Reports from the Federal Government Visitation Panel for 1999–2003 confirmed permanent acquisition.

“The Bosso campus is lawfully and permanently vested in the Federal Government for the use of the university. The Niger State Government does not possess legal grounds to reclaim or takeover the campus. Any attempt to do so would contradict established legal, historical, and documentary evidence,” the circular said.

Lydia Legbo, Head of Information and Public Relations at FUT Minna, also reaffirmed that the campus was permanently acquired and that claims of a lease arrangement are “factually and legally incorrect.”

She said compensation was paid to the state, marking a full transfer of ownership. The university stressed that there is no record of any lease, tenancy, or temporary transfer document relating to the property.

Media also obtained letters of approval issued by the Niger State Ministry of Lands, Surveys, and Town Planning in 2004, transferring individual plots of land to FUT Minna, with compensations paid.

A report by the Presidential Visitation Panel covering 1993–2003 confirmed that the Bosso campus was acquired on a permanent basis from the former Teachers’ College.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), North Central Zone, on Wednesday issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Niger State Government to abandon its plan to take over the Bosso Campus of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

Addressing journalists, the North Central Coordinator of NANS, Hussaini Jamilu Ebbo, warned that if the state government fails to comply within the ultimatum, the association would mobilise students to occupy all major roads in the state.

Ebbo also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and call the Niger State governor to order to prevent actions that could destabilise academic activities at the university.

He emphasised that NANS cannot allow the Niger State Government’s move to frustrate students and vowed that the association would resist any attempt to take over the campus.

In a similar vein, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of FUT Minna cautioned that the proposed takeover, particularly of hostel accommodations at the campus, has created fear among students residing in the hostels.

The union urged the state government to desist from any actions that could disturb students’ peace of mind.

The SUG President, Ezekiel Adaidu Machofo, further warned that the state government would be held fully responsible if any untoward incident occurs affecting students as a result of its threats toward the institution.