ASUU and Niger State Government Collide Over "Unlawful" Seizure of FUTMINNA Bosso Campus for New Medical School

ASUU and FUTMINNA students protest Niger State's attempt to seize the Bosso Campus for a medical school, citing a 1983 federal purchase agreement.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 4, 2026, 4:13 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Nation Newspaper

Protests Erupt at Bosso Campus

Tensions reached a boiling point in Minna on Wednesday, March 4, as staff and students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA) took to the streets to resist a land acquisition bid by the Niger State Government. Led by ASUU Chairperson Prof. Lukman Kunle Oyewobi and the Student Union Government (SUG), protesters blocked the university gates at the Bosso Campus, condemning what they described as an "illegal land grab" that threatens federal assets and academic stability.

The Legal Dispute: 1983 Agreement vs. State Claims

The crux of the conflict lies in the ownership history of the land. The Niger State Government has allegedly characterized the campus as a "temporary lease" that has expired. Conversely, Prof. Oyewobi clarified that the Federal Government paid ₦2.8 million in 1983 to purchase the property—originally a Roman Catholic missionary school—for full ownership. Pioneers of the institution, including Prof. Abdubanji Tijani, maintain that the property is a vital federal asset and that any state interference constitutes a violation of federal laws and academic freedom.

Impact on Students and Research

The Bosso Campus is far from "vacant" or "idle." It currently houses: