‘It may increase banditry’ — NANS laments fee hike in UNIMAID

The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has decried the increase in registration fees by the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID).

According to NAN, the students’ association is calling for a downward review of the fee, adding that most of the students “can’t afford it.”

Suleiman Muhammad-Sarki, the national vice president of the association (for special duties), spoke on the fee hike at a news conference in Maiduguri.

He said the recent increase in the fee by the institution is “unnecessary”.

The VP also pointed out that the northeast region was recovering from the insurgency.

“Increment of any amount on registration charges will definitely lead to a huge number of school dropouts across the country,” he said.

“The recent hike in registration charges by some Nigerian universities does not come to us as a surprise but as an affront to war against insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.

“Students who are unable to pay the new fee might end up becoming dropouts and this will add to the rising number of youth restiveness in Nigeria.

“[This] may also in return increase the number of insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers.

“As a student who paid N30,000 last session, I could not afford to pay N74,000 now expected from the latest increase, and I may be forced to quit studies.”

The unionist urged the government and other stakeholders to intervene to enable indigent students to access quality education.

Earlier, Ahmed Lawan, UNIMAID registrar, announced an upward review of registration fees and other charges.

“The action is as a result of the rising cost of laboratory items, teaching and learning materials,” he said.