Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, declaring that the state-owned institution is here to stay and will be fully protected.
The Governor made this known during a meeting with stakeholders from the Lapai Emirate and the university community at the Government House, Minna.
The meeting addressed the recent security breaches that led to the institution’s indefinite closure.
Governor Bago directed the university’s management to work closely with the State Security Committee to establish robust security measures.
These include recruiting, training, and equipping personnel dedicated to protecting the campus.
He also mandated the issuance of new student and staff identity cards embedded with digital codes containing comprehensive personal data to enhance access control and campus monitoring.
Expressing zero tolerance for future security lapses, the Governor emphasized that students’ safety remains a top priority.
He further announced that parents would be required to sign undertakings regarding the conduct of their children, warning that disruptive behavior would be met with strict disciplinary measures.
To address accommodation challenges, Governor Bago urged the university to explore a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) partnership with private developers, thereby reducing its dependency on government funding.
Governor Bago called on the institution to adopt more innovative strategies for revenue generation to ensure sustainable development.
In a decisive move, the Governor instructed that all satellite campuses be shut down within the next three years, with academic activities consolidated at the main campus in Lapai.
The university will only be reopened once a comprehensive security overhaul is completed to ensure the safety of students, staff, and university assets, he said.
Governor Bago also stressed the importance of harmonious coexistence between the host community and the university, citing the potential for mutual socio-economic benefits.
He announced plans for a town hall meeting with Lapai stakeholders and disclosed ongoing collaboration with the local government chairman to establish a vigilante group to enhance local security.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Abdullahi Adamu Mamagi, and Lapai Local Government Chairman, Abdullahi Musa Kirikpo, highlighted key challenges facing the university, including inadequate student accommodation and insufficient security personnel.
They appealed to the Governor to intervene and provide lasting solutions.
The Vice Chancellor of IBBU, Professor Mohammed Hadi Suleiman, also briefed the gathering on ongoing efforts to attract support for improved student housing and infrastructure development.
