‘It’s dangerous’ — YABATECH lecturers fault location of petrol station on campus

Lecturers at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) have opposed the ongoing construction of a petrol station between the college central laboratory and science complex in the institution.

NAN reports that the lecturers, who are members of the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), spoke at a briefing on Tuesday.

Ojo Monday, the institution’s ASUP chairman, said the location of the fuel station poses danger to students and staff.

Monday said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the petrol station was signed during the tenure of Obafemi Omokungbe, former rector, and urged relevant authorities to intervene.

“The site of the petrol station is conspicuously dangerous to lives of students, staffers and other patrons of the College. It is stuck in-between where volatile chemicals and high inflammable reagents are stored for students use,” he said.

“On the other side of the site is our science complex, that houses offices, classrooms, laboratories, and behind is the central store, which warehouses sensitive equipment of the college such as A/C, stationery, refrigerators, fans and computer systems.”

The institution’s ASUP chairman contend that the site should be earmarked for additional classrooms and staff offices instead.

Reacting, Ibraheem Abdul, YABATECH rector, said the institution’s governing council approved the construction of a petrol station on the land in 2021.

He said the terms and conditions in the MoU are currently undergoing review to decide the institution’s next line of action.

The rector added the project would be terminated if established that it indeed pose danger “either to the college, lives of people or environment”.

“I brought it to the knowledge of the Council, which directed that we should invite the parties involved in the MOU to renegotiate and discuss further on the contents, on which we are already in the process,” he said.

“I’m looking at the advantages and disadvantages, in spite of the fact that the MOU had been signed by those who were in authority then and we cannot use a fire brigade approach, but go back to negotiation table, for the parties to discuss and have amicable resolution.

“Unfortunately there is no more council, but before  the council comes in, let us renegotiate the terms/conditions and make it favourable.”