From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
The management of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology Wudil in Kano state has locked up a Block E female students hostel within the campus of the institution.
Recall that the university had imposed N2,000 fine on the students for allegedly messing up the ten rooms and five toilets in the block.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Dean, Students Affairs of the university, Professor Abdulqadir Muhammad Dambazau, said the management decided to punish the affected students to serve as deterrence to others.
According to him, worried by the unhealthy state of the hostels, the university had embarked on renovation exercise to keep the facilities clean and habitable.
However, according to Mr. Dambazau, the affected students failed to keep the environment clean as they bathe, urinate outside the toilet, while littering the spaces with defecation.
The Dean also stated that the students were of the habit of using cooker gas to prepare meals ina room without considering its danger.
“These not only have risk to health and hygiene but also the moral standards of occupying a space in the school hostel”, he explained.
Dambazau added that the management had already imposed N3,000 fine against anybody that misuses the hostels, adding that the affected students were charged N2,000 because it was the first time they were caught messing up the environment after they were warned prior to that.
“Whoever violates such rules would be warned twice, and if he persists will be forced to pay N3,000 as penalty.
“On the issue of a student collapsing as a result of the closure of the hostel is not true. Neither the university authority nor the Students’ Union Government is aware of this.
“Contrary to the allegation that the money is paid to private account, no, the money is paid to the account of the Students’ Affairs.
“Some of these rules include banning the students from cooking inside the congested rooms with gas cookers to avoid accidents.
“We have also changed the former system of reserving the rooms for those who have connections. Now everyone is entitled and can register and make payments online and be allocated”, he added.
Dambazau insisted that no going back on locking up the rooms and payment of the fine in order to serve as lesson to others.
He explained further that the university is taking shape with the renovations and construction of new facilities, aimed at giving the environment a befitting facelift.
Our correspondent reports that there was insinuations that the university management had locked out the students, which forces them pass night outside despite the cold whether.
It was also alleged that the institution imposed a fine of N3,000 to each of the affected students, but the payment should be done through a personal bank account.
