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  • Kwara community rebuilds burnt market with N500m

    Kwara community rebuilds burnt market with N500m

    Renowned for communal efforts, the people of Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State rebuilt the popular Owode Market in the ancient town after it was razed down by an early morning fire.

    It cost them N500m to rebuild the 302-shop facility, it was learnt.

    The inferno which was said to have started around 1:30am in May 2014 reportedly burnt down a larger part of the market.

    The fire was said to have been caused by a power surge from an electric pole. Traders had earlier reportedly complained about the damaged pole to the electricity officials to rectify the problem.

    The National Emergency Agency (NEMA) has also put smile in the faces of the over 648 victims of the incident.

    Though, the community’s indebtedness on the ongoing project is in the neighbourhood of N32 million, the community disclosed that it had expended about N500 million on reconstruction work.

    Secretary General of the Offa Descendants Union (ODU), Mrs. Wasilat A. Mcarthy who conducted NEMA team round the market recently said the state government had redeemed its pledge of N10 million.

    Mrs. Mcarthy said: “We feel highly elated and appreciative of NEMA for coming to give relief materials to the fire victims. We know that the federal government in his wisdom has put in this agency to bring succour and joy to disaster victims.

    We have about 648 people who were victims of the inferno and who will benefit from the NEMA largess. 302 shops were burnt. Some of them share shops, that is why we have 648 victims.

    “We lost close to N2 billion as a committee was put in place. Some of the victims even left money in their shops.

    “My advice is that we should take proactive action to forestall future occurrence of that. We should insure our goods.

    “The reconstruction of the market so far is strictly on community efforts. All sons and daughters of Offa even those that are not resident in Offa have been contributing money.  We always wake up to the cry of ourselves.

    We have a listening government. Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed came immediately the fire occurred, he saw it and he was touched.”

    Speaking, Zonal Coordinator NEMA, Minna Operation Office, Mr. Slaku L. Bijimi said that the agency is worried by incessant fire out break across the country.

    NEMA boss added that “it is advising that we take preventive measures so that we curb disasters. We do not like to come to assist people because of disasters because we do not take pleasure in the loss of lives, property of the people. No amount of material or money you give can bring back life. We want people to be safe than to be devastated by disasters.”

    Mr. Bijimi said: “A few months ago we came for an assessment here and we saw that a good part of the market was burnt and we promised to come back.

    “We are impressed by the fact that work is almost completed and we are hoping that the small assistance we brought…will go a long way in speeding up the remaining work and the market will be commissioned.

    “For the market we have cement, roofing sheets, nails, and for the affected victims, we have food and non-food items…What we came with is worth millions of naira.”

  • Kwara monarchs allege Saraki’s ‘persecution’

    Kwara monarchs allege Saraki’s ‘persecution’

    The Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council has described the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as persecution. The monarchs advised the Federal Government to discontinue the trial.

    In a statement by Saraki’s media office, the monarchs said they would continue to pray for Saraki to overcome the challenges.

    Dr. Saraki is being tried for alleged false declaration of assets while he was governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.

    The statement quoted the monarchs to have reminded the government that Nigerians voted for change and not for “political harassment of perceived opponents”.

    The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, who led a delegation of the monarchs on a solidarity visit to Saraki, urged Nigerians to be wary of bad elements bent on dividing the country on account of political vendetta.

    Sulu-Gambari said: “We are here for good reasons and to bring the goodwill of the Council of Chiefs. We are ready to support our son. We are here to see him on the various constitutional challenges, we would not call them problems, and may God not make them problems for us.

    “It doesn’t take long for a 10-year-old child to realise that our dear son, our precious son is being persecuted. The politics of persecution is not the right change for Nigeria.

    “We want changes; we want it to be clean. He who seeks equity must come with clean hands. If you want equity, you must do equity.

    “We know there are several stages of challenges before our leader, such that nobody in Nigeria can ever be clean enough. But do we want to upset the whole Nigeria because we want a beautiful change? Time and posterity will tell.

    “But we want to appeal to men of goodwill that politics should not be with bitterness. Politics should be about the unity of this country.

    “We, therefore, came here to declare our support and solidarity to our precious son. If you (Saraki) look back, you will see us in various forms, begging Almighty Allah to protect you. Nigeria should beware of destructive elements. Nobody is perfect. We are in this scheme to make Nigeria very strong in the comity of nations.”

    Thanking the monarchs for their support, Saraki assured them he would overcome his travails.

    His words: “I am honoured and at the same time humbled to receive this visit from our royal fathers. The last time I had this honour was when I was still the governor.

    “There is nothing more to add because you have spoken. You have spoken from your years of experience as a father, and as someone who has headed a very great arm of government – the judiciary.

    “Your words of wisdom and encouragement will continue to give me great confidence. As you rightly said, it is a challenging time, not only for us the politicians, but generally the country.

    “Be assured that with your support and your prayers, we will overcome it because the people know that this is not prosecution, but persecution”.

  • Rangers bounce back to beat Kwara 2-1

    Rangers bounce back to beat Kwara 2-1

    Rangers came back from a goal down to beat troubled Kwara United 2-1 in Enugu on Sunday in a Nigeria league Week 31 game.

    Rangers now have 45 points from 31 games, while Kwara United have 32 points from the same number of matches.

    Visiting Kwara drew first blood a minute to the interval through striker Segun Alebiosu.

    However, the introduction of Bobby Clement by Rangers coach changed the game and man of the match Osas Okoro levelled scores in the 48th minute.

    Bobby Clement then sealed the victory for the home team with a 56th minute goal off Osas Okoro’s pass.

    “It was a good game because we fought as a team,” Rangers defender Etim Matthew told AfricanFootball.com after the match.

    Eagles assistant coach Loscuito was at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium in Enugu along with Eagles coach older brother, Churchill Oliseh to watch the match.

  • Attack on dignitaries barbaric, says Kwara govt

    Attack on dignitaries barbaric, says Kwara govt

    The Kwara State government has condemned the attack on dignitaries at the Ilorin Eid praying ground during yesterday’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

    It described the action as “absurd, barbaric and unislamic.” In a statement by AbdulWahab Oba, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed

    The government said it heard of plans by some aggrieved politicians in collaboration with some of the local government employees and teachers to protest arrears of salaries owned them by their various local government authorities.

    “As a result of this government quickly went out of its way to negotiate and secure bank loans to offset the arrears pending the time when the federal government bailout will be released as a result of which the concerned workers promptly received their salaries as directed by the governor”.

    “Government therefore wonders for what purpose and to whom the attack on Thursday was directed since majority of state and local government workers, including primary school teachers, have received their salaries.”

    The state government said those that are yet to receive their salaries will be paid on Monday as Thursday and Friday are public holidays.

    The statement urged politicians not to turn the state of harmony into another state of violence urging the police to bring to justice without delay, those already apprehended while imploring the people to mark the Eid El Kabir holidays peacefully and with prayers for the quick resolution of the challenges facing the national economy.

    The government said there was therefore “no reason for anyone or group to spread negative rumours or incite trouble on any account as Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed approved the payment of state and local government workers last Tuesday in anticipation of monthly allocation to the state and Federal Government salary bailout for local government councils”.

  • ‘Saraki not attacked’

    ‘Saraki not attacked’

    The Media Office of the Senate President has denied reports that Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was attacked at the Eid Prayer Ground on Thursday during the prayers to mark the Eid-el-Kabir in Ilorin, Kwara State.
    In a statement by the Media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the office said the report was ” totally false and a figment of the imagination of those behind the story because the protest was never targeted at him, neither was any missile hurled at him.”
    ” The Senate President arrived at the venue this morning without any incident, prayed with other Muslim faithful, including the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness (HRH), Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ali Ahmad and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alfa Belgore, among others.
    ” Before the Senate President left the prayer ground, he spoke to reporters who had asked him about his message for Nigerians to mark the Eid-el-Kabir.
    ” We want to say that nothing can be further from the truth as the Senate President was never attacked nor was there any attempt made on his life to warrant him being ‘whisked away’ as reported by a section of the media.
    ” We however observe that there was a protest allegedly staged by local government employees over purported non-payment of salaries which hoodlums attempted to hijacked but this development was immediately curtailed by security agents.
    ” Therefore, to say that the Senate President was attacked at the venue of the prayers is The Kwara State Government has since issued a statement in which it stated that majority of the workers in the state have received their salaries and that those yet to receive theirs will do so on Monday as Thursday and Friday of this week are public holidays.”

  • Eid prayer: Eight arrested over attack on Saraki, others

    Eid prayer: Eight arrested over attack on Saraki, others

    The Kwara state police command has arrested eight people in connection with the attack on Senate President Bukola Saraki and other personalities at the Ilorin Yidi praying ground on Thursday.
    The command spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi disclosed this to reporters in Ilorin, adding that the people arrested were miscreants.
    Mr. Okasanmi said there was no record of any civil servant or government official among those arrested.
    Said he: “The state police command deployed no fewer than 2000 policemen in synergy with other security agencies to make sure that the eid- el – Kabir celebration is a huge success. It was free in the course of prayers and there was the insurgence of criminals which we put into consideration while planning our security strategy. We know they normally come to beg for money from well to do members of the public.
    “So they came as usual, but we noticed they were becoming unruly and we have to come out to prevent them from where the VIPs were seated. We then chased them away and we arrested about eight of them. They are in our custody and we have started investigation.
    “We learnt that one or two persons were injured; but there has not been any official reports as to if any was injured in the course of arresting. The motive of their unruly behavior is yet to be determined. As far as we are concerned the people arrested are miscreants.
    “From the stories we are hearing one or two vehicles have been damaged but we have not seen the vehicles. We also heard that one person was injured but we have not seen the person.
    “The prayers went as planned and the dignitaries that came back to their various destinations without any hitch. Among the people arrested there was no record of civil or government functionary; the eight arrested are miscreants.”

  • Angry worshippers attack Saraki, Emir, ex-Minister, dignitaries

    Angry worshippers attack Saraki, Emir, ex-Minister, dignitaries

    Angry worshippers on Thursday attacked the President of the Senate, Dr. Olubukola Saraki , the Emir of Ilorin, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, and many political figures at the Eid Praying Ground in Ilorin in protest against the state of the economy of Kwara.

    The Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alh. Muhammadu Bashir was not spared the wrath of the protesters.

    Others who were victims of the spontaneous mob action were ex- Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ali Ahmad, ex-Speaker Razak Atunwa( now a member of the House of Representatives) Rep Amuda Kannike, a former National Chairman of the PDP, Alh. Kawu Baraje, the Taliban of Ilorin, Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, members of the State House of Assembly, all the Baloguns, Magajis and prominent leaders in Ilorin Emirate.

    The protesters were said to be angry because of non-utilization of the bail out funds given to the state by the Federal Government to offset workers’ salaries.

    They alleged that the bail out funds were used to offset the bill incurred on crowning Saraki as the President of the Senate.

    Although the prayer was fixed for 10am, there was tension as early as 8am at the Eid Praying Ground.
    It was evident that most worshippers were out for showdown because initial sermon segment of the Sallah celebration fell on deaf ears.

    [ad id=”403656″]As Saraki and others arrived the praying ground, there was intermittent shout of “Ole! Ole!! Ole!!!(Thief, thief, thief).

    Others were shouting “Ebi n pa wa!” “Ebi yii tito Saraki!””A o ki run, e fun wa lounje”( We are hungry, enough of hunger Saraki, give us food, teach us how to fish.”

    The thunderous vituperations were hardly subsided when stones and missiles were thrown at the dignitaries.

    The police, security agents, and members of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, battled spiritedly to curtail the protesters who remained defiant.

    There were sporadic firing of teargas canisters by the police and security agents.

    After about 30-minute protest, temporary calm was restored which gave way for the observance of the two Nafilats( prayers).

    But as the dignitaries were filing out , the protesters started hurling missiles again.

    As at press time, there was tension in Saraki’s camp over who was responsible for the attack.

    Ahmed, who was probably aware of security reports, went to Share, his hometown, to observe the prayers.

  • Kwara grows micro credit scheme to N1.2b

    Kwara grows micro credit scheme to N1.2b

    The Kwara State government yesterday said its Micro Credit Intervention Scheme (MCIS), launched in 2012 with a sum of N250 million has reached a cumulative of N1.2billion.

    The government added that no fewer than 50,000 small business owners have benefited from the scheme.

    Technical Adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on MCIS Olusegun Soewu told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital assuring that more artisans would benefit from the revolving micro-credit scheme of the state government.

    Mr. Soewu added that the state government has set up a new entrepreneurial scheme tagged “Kwara’s Next Entrepreneur” entrepreneurship and competitiveness in the state’s informal sector. The scheme allows existing and new medium scale enterprises to bid for funds to establish or expand existing businesses in the state.

    To this end, a sum of N150million has been earmarked and deposited at the Bank of Industry (BoI) for the scheme.

    He said that a crop of successful businessmen had been engaged as managers and captains to scrutinise business plans of interested individuals.

    The technical adviser said “the panel of captains include, Mr. Kunle Oyinloye, Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank, The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Esuwoye II, successful businessman and agro entrepreneur, Mr. Shuaib Ottan, accomplished banker, Vice Admiral Samuel Afolayan (rtd): former Chief of Naval Staff and successful agro-Entrepreneur, Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Alli, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Lanre Sagaya, an engineering consultant. Others are Mr. Waheed Olagunju, Executive Director, Bank of Industry, Chief Tajudeen Owoyemi, Chairman, Avalon Hotel, Offa, and Mr. Gabriel Adewumi, consummate businessman.”

    On the duration of the scheme, Soewu said the competition will be held twice a year to ensure that as a many qualifying small businesses as possible benefit from the scheme.

  • No plan to take over ministries, agencies —Kwara Harmony Holdings chair /Emir Halidu Abubakar

    No plan to take over ministries, agencies —Kwara Harmony Holdings chair /Emir Halidu Abubakar

    Emir of Ilesha-Baruba and the Chairman of the Kwara State government integrated company, known as Harmony Holdings, Prof. Halidu Abubakar, in this interview with selected reporters, including ADEKUNLE JIMOH, dismissed rumours making the round that the company is planning to take over the state’s ministries, agencies and parastatals, among other issues.

    What is the ownership structure of Harmony Holdings?

    Harmony Holdings is solely owned by the Kwara State Government. As you know, anybody, either a corporate organisation or individuals, can come together and own a company. Harmony Holdings is an integrated company and 100 percent of its shares are owned by the Kwara State government, which again is a normal thing. If you are from Kwara, it means that you are a stakeholder because Harmony Holdings is owned by your government.

    Since Harmony Holdings started its operation, what are its goals and objectives?

    Let us start from a background. All over the world, in order to promote development, we have what is called DFI – development finance institution. Harmony Holdings plays a dual role. It is what the name applies, holding company for government’s business interests. The whole idea of having Harmony Holdings is because government has diversified business interests. When we started development process in this country, government has diverse business interests; government was having interest in virtually everything. Over the years, it was realised that government had no business in this kind of business. Therefore, the best thing to do for some government was, they sold outright but for some governments, they leveraged on what they had by bringing together all the investments under a holding company. That is how Harmony Holdings came into being. It serves importantly as a DFI; it helps to generate funds for development. It also serves as a holding company to bring together government investments such as Kwara Investment and Property Limited. It is a very important company.

    Initially, it was just an investment company. It was a fantastic idea. People came from all over the country to monitor what was happening there, but over the years, it died down. It operated Kwara Midlands, Kwara Foods, Riverside Food etc. So, when Harmony Holdings came up, it tried to revive the initial objective of using a platform to develop the state. So, Harmony holdings’ scope is very wide. We have already existing investments like Kwara Hotel, Kwara Investment etc. But again as a virile investment company, we are looking into Green Field Investment and areas that have not been mapped out. We have that mandate from government to do what will think we bring in money and development for government and Kwara State generally. So, the scope is very diversified and the objective of course. The final analysis is to bring development to Kwara State. And I think over these three years that we have been on ground; we have done the best we can, under this circumstance.

    With my experience from other investment companies, because under my former company, NNDC, I had the opportunity to virtually interact with investment companies from virtually all over the northern states and even outside the northern states. And if you look at the model with which Harmony Holdings is working, it is a very fantastic one. Because one of the problems about government investment generally is that there is usually too much interference by government. Because if you look at it in theory, there is nothing that makes private sector more efficient than government sector. And over the 30 years, I have always been asking myself, is there anything intrinsically that makes private sector more efficient than government sector? Basically none. It is just the operational guidelines and the objectives.

    As an investors, you try to sell your products where the average cost meets the marginal cost. But for government, it sells below that cost. In other words, you are bringing in subsidy. So, that issue of subsidy tends to limit the scope of government. But now with Harmony Holdings, all those incumberances are removed and we work like any corporate organisation anywhere in the world in terms of everything and even appearance of the staff. So, I think we have done so well. Even in terms of one crucial issue, that is employment generation, I think Harmony Holdings has done a fantastic job. You see for a private investor, for instance, he set up and also said one of his objectives is to create employment. No private investor does that; creating employment by private investors is just incidental, but for us, creating employment is not incidental, it is part and parcel of our objectives.

    What exactly can you point at as the achievements of this organisation that actually has direct impact on the state government?

    Thank you, you see for a business person in a company, the bottom line is profit. If we use that yardstick, I think that best answers your question. So, in that regard, the state government I think got about N75 million or N80 million as a dividend last year. And that is fantastic. Secondly of course, if you look at a company like Kwara Investment, you will note that a lot have changed in terms of the perception of staff and the output of workers has improved. Also, another obvious one is Kwara Express, now renamed Harmony Express. Before now of course, for those of you who travel, you see Kwara Express vehicles park all over the roads from here to Kaduna, for instance, broken down.

    But, about two months ago we launched about 42 or 47 brand new vehicles with state-of-the-art technology to ensure that customers are well served and reduce all areas of leakages. So, that is one of our major achievements. But also in terms of developing business ideas, I think Harmony Holdings has done a lot. So, if you look at it within the yardstick of profitability, it has declared profit and it is going to declare profit from time to time. But a finance development institution like this, it is not just about declaring profit, you; know there are two types of profit. There are nominal profit, that is, naira and kobo profit and there is real profit, that is, how many people have benefitted from that investment. For Harmony Holdings, both interm of nominal and real profits, Harmony Holdings has done well.

    There is this rumour that the state government is planning to put all state-owned institutions under Harmony Holdings, how true is the rumour?

    Well, first of all, rumour will continue to be rumour and let me say that we Harmony Holdings cannot speak for the state government, so that people will not say that Harmony Holdings wants to capture ministries, departments, and agencies. Anyway, there is nothing like that. And on that I am risking representing government because I am not privy to whatever decision has been taken but I know that the leadership of the state cannot do something like that. What is even the basis and rationale for that? Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed will not do anything like that; because in anything you want to do, you look at the rationale, what are your objectives? I do not see any objective there. We are a company that specialises more in business, not in running government. Yes, we run government-investments but we run investments as investors, not as government. So definitely, do not believe that rumour.

    I don’t believe it because it does not make sense anyway. So, there is no future plan to take over MDAs. Harmony Holdings is not incorporated to do that kind of thing. No government will transfer its own responsibilities to any other person. If government does that, then we have taken over government. I don’t think legitimately or reasonably, any government will want to do that at all. When you hear any rumour, look at the common sense in the rumour. Transferring ministries means that I will not be chairman, I will become governor. These are just very stupid kinds of rumour.

     What is the relationship between Harmony Holdings and Kwara Revenue Service?

    There is no relationship between the two. No relationship because, first of all, I understand I do not work for government and I don’t work for the revenue service. I understand of course that the revenue service is being remodelled. I do not know the details, but the remodelling is just to make it more efficient. It has nothing to do with us as Harmony Holdings. There is no relationship; of course, if we meet once in a while we exchange ideas. We are here to advise government, whether or not there is revenue service, on how to maximise the IGR of government. So, in that part capacity, well you can say maybe we relate, but I am not aware of any formal sense of relationship. There is no relationship. Again these are two different organisations, the other one is to collect IGR for government and this is to promote development and investments of government. So, there is really no direct relationship.

     What are the future plans of the Harmony Holdings?

    The future plans are fantastic, because each time we meet as the board, we have to tell the management to hold on and apply some brakes because they have a lot of ideas that if we leave them and give them five years, you will see a lot of development. The future of course is to consolidate Harmony Holdings. We have, for instance, taken transport and we are thinking of courier service. We are even thinking of going into water transportation. I remember some two years back, we were toying with the idea of railways; in fact there was already a relationship with the railways from Ilorin to Jebba and some other places. I think for now it has cooled down. So, we want directly to emphasise development that will bring in profit for government and also to provide leadership in investment for everybody in Kwara.

    So, the future is very wide. And I think it can be actualised if they get support and cooperation from people like you, because if we keep on listening to rumours, in fact, we will just get frustrated, that we just fold our arms and doing nothing. But I think that ofcourse is not going to be any option for us. Doing nothing is not going to be an option for us. So, we want to plead with you, anytime you hear any rumour, just contact us.

    We will like you to shed more light on the ownership of Harmony Holdings

    Quite clearly, Harmony Holdings is owned by Kwara State government. Kwara State government means everybody in Kwara. This company is not owned by any individual or group of individuals. It is company wholly owned, the shares are 100 percent owned by Kwara State government. Since I came on board, I have never seen anything to the contrary. Of course, if you know investment, if you know how companies are incorporated and so on, you cannot hide anything. People who are saying it is owned by some other bodies, they are free to go to the Corporate Affairs Commission to confirm.

    In fact, the way they operate now, you can sit down and get a lawyer to search. Search for Harmony Holdings and it will show you who owns the place and so on. And that is the most important thing. Kwara State government is the legal owner of Harmony Holdings. There is no any individual or group of people who own Harmony Holdings except Kwara State government. And I think we should delete that from our minds. We cannot sit down here and begin to tell people lies. I cannot, for instance, and be serving any individual at this age when I am already moving towards the bus stop. Definitely, I want the public to believe us that it is owned by Kwara State government.

     

     

  • Kwara varsity is exploitation machine’

    Kwara varsity is exploitation machine’

    Pioneer graduates of the Kwara State University (KWASU) have alleged exploitation against the school, following its directive that its graduates must pay N45,000 for accommodation. The graduates vowed not to pay, claiming they did not stay in the school hostels. MATTHEW AJAKAIYE (Zoology) reports.

    The Kwara State University (KWASU) in Malete, Ilorin, the state capital, held its maiden convocation last June, with the hope that its first set of graduates would be mobilised for the National Youth Service in October. But, three months after, the institution is yet to release the results of the graduates to enable them participate in the service.

    The school’s action has generated discontent among the graduates, who condemned the management’s refusal to initiate the process that would enable them participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

    Some of the students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said various letters had been sent to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to draw his attention to their plight, but there was  no response from the government  . The students accused the university of using its “extortion policy” to delay their future engagements.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the KWASU management had decided it would not release the final year results of the graduates and stopped the process of their certificates until they pay N45,000 each for hostel accommodation. This, it was gathered, is meant to serve as a penalty for the graduates’ refusal to stay in the university-acquired off-campus hostels.

    But, the graduates said they could never pay for hostels they didn’t use.

    The university authorities mandated all freshers and graduating students to stay in its hostels, on and off-campus, which went for N45,000 per bed space.

    The final year students were not satisfied with the arrangement, which led many of them to go for cheaper private hostels outside the campus. They complained the accommodation fee in the school hostels was “exorbitant” compared to the rent they would pay living in the school’s host community.

    A student, who simply gave his name as Dayo, said the management was wrong not to allow students to have choice on the accommodation matter, adding that the school authorities wanted to extort money from the students by forcing them to pay “outrageous fee” for school hostels. He said private hostels are relatively cheap.

    “The school hostels are very far from the campus, such that students living in those hostels spend high fare on transportation to and from the school. This is why many of us decided not to stay in their hostels,” he said.

    Another student of Mass Communication, who simply gave her name as Monisola, described the school’s accommodation policy as brazen exploitation, adding that students would not pay for a service they never sought for.

    She said: “The KWASU management’s insistence that we pay N45,000 hostel accommodation before they can process our results and certificates is a brazen exploitation and sheer wickedness. How can they expect us to pay for bed spaces we did not use when we were in school?”

    Monisola said students considered the “illegal payment” as “dubious”, alleging that the school management wanted to use the money to pay its staff. She added: “If the Kwara State government cannot fund the school anymore, they should rather privatise it than turning it to an exploitation machine to rip off the public.”

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Gov. Ahmed was embarrassed by the students’ allegation and ordered investigation of the matter, but there has been no official statement from the government.

    However, the school management denied allegation of extortion, noting that its policy was introduced in the interest of students. This was contained in a statement released by Information Office on the school’s website.

    The statement reads: “KWASU neither extorts nor compels all students to stay in university accommodation. However, it has made hostel accommodation mandatory for fresh and final year students for their own benefits. For example, fresh students are placed in accommodation where they can be monitored.

    “It is equally compulsory for the final year students to stay in the hostel because that is the year they need to take their studies seriously. When they live in the accommodation provided by the school, they will have time for their studies and perform better than living off-campus.”

    The management added that, if any student had a genuine reason to stay out the accommodation provided by the university, such student was expected to pick up an exemption form and state his “genuine reason” for rejecting the school hostels.