‘Over 800 plots annexed’ — FGC Kaduna students rally against landgrab by state government

The Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA), an umbrella body for old students of federal government colleges across the country, on Saturday staged a peaceful protest against the encroachment on the land of Federal Government College, Kaduna state.

They were joined by the students.

The administration of Nasir El-Rufai, who just left office as governor,  was accused of taking over 800 plots of land belonging to the school located in Malali village.

Hundreds of protesters participated in the peaceful rally which was held within the school premises.

The protest was led by Mike Magaji, national president of USOSA, and Seyi Gambo, president of the FGC Kaduna old students association.

The students carried placards condemning the alleged landgrab.

Some of the placards read: “We say no to land grabbing”, “Land encroachment threatens students’ safety”, and “FGC Kaduna not for sale.”

Speaking with journalists during the rally, Magaji said the encroachment is a threat to public education.

“As USOSA and as the president of the association, we condemn the encroachment of the land belonging to Federal Government College, Kaduna,” he said.

“On behalf of the executive members of USOSA and millions of our members all over the world, we are here to protest what has happened to FGC Kaduna, where hundreds of plots of land belonging to the school were taken by the Kaduna state government without due process.”

He described el-Rufai’s alleged action as “a threat to public education and nation building”, adding that unity schools were created for integration.

Magaji said: “As old students of FGC Kaduna, we are here to protect the future of the students and the future of education in Nigeria.”

He appealed to the new Kaduna state governor, Uba Sani, and President Bola Tinubu to intervene and recover the land.

“FGC Kaduna is owned by the federal government. It doesn’t belong to the state government so President Tinubu has the responsibility to protect the assets of the federal government all over Nigeria,” Magaji said.

The USOSA president said nobody should be allowed to undermine the future of public education.

“We should be promoting access, more infrastructure and not taking away the scarce infrastructure we have in our schools,” he said.

“We are in touch with the federal ministry of education over the issue. We are in the process of further engagement with them so that the original purpose which the land was meant for is restored.”

He said a court injunction was ignored by the state government under el-Rufai.