The University of Abuja Alumni Association has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and stop the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, from proceeding with plans to revoke a significant portion of the university’s land.
At a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the association’s National President, Habeeb-Ullah Abdulkadir, described the proposed reduction of the institution’s land from 11,800 hectares to 4,000 as “unlawful, reckless, and a direct assault on Nigeria’s educational and national heritage.”
Abdulkadir explained that the land was allocated in 1988 during President Ibrahim Babangida’s administration to cater to the university’s long-term needs, including academic facilities, research centres, agricultural programmes, and future expansion.
He warned that cutting the land size would limit the institution’s ability to grow, accommodate its rising student population, and fulfil its dual mandate of conventional and distance learning. “This reckless action risks damaging Nigeria’s reputation in international education circles and jeopardising valuable partnerships that benefit our students and the nation,” he said.
In response, the association has launched the “Save UniAbuja Project” and sent protest letters to the FCT Minister, the Minister of Education, and the Presidency. They are also engaging the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), while preparing for a public hearing at the National Assembly.
Abdulkadir vowed that the alumni are ready for a sustained campaign, including peaceful protests, legal action, and petitions to both national and international bodies. “The University of Abuja belongs to all Nigerians. Its land and identity are national assets, not political bargaining chips,” he declared.
