LASU: We didn’t throw out students’ belongings from hostels

The Lagos State University (LASU) has dismissed a report alleging that the management of its college of medicine (LASUCOM) deliberately threw out belongings of students from their hostels and left them in the rain.

On Tuesday, the report had claimed that LASUCOM’s management ordered the removal of properties belonging to students from their halls of residence.

This, the report claimed, had come after an ultimatum earlier issued by the institution to the students elapsed.

But in a statement on Wednesday, Ademola Adekoya, the institution’s spokesman, described the report as untrue.

According to him, the institution had issued several notices spanning six months to the students asking them to take away all their valuable items from the hostels.

He explained that majority of the students complied with the directive, but a few of them refused to do as instructed.

The spokesman said when the Lagos state government eventually announced that institutions owned by it should resume, the management had embarked on renovation of its buildings.

This, he explained, was done in compliance with the state government’s directive mandating that only one student stays in a room to combat spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Adekoya added that contrary to the report, the unpacked items found in the halls during the renovation were properly covered with trampoline.

“During the renovation, many of the unpacked items, mostly plastic buckets and stoves and old clothes, were taken out into the hostel compound and covered with trampoline,” the statement read.

“We believe the students appreciate our effort in providing a neat, safe and welcoming living environment that is conducive for study.

“It appears that the trampoline was removed by some students in a bid to pick their property when the picture posted by the news platform was taken.”

He said the institution “remains committed to the welfare of its students and will continue to strive to provide the best quality education in a conducive atmosphere.”