The Lagos Government House and its adjoining environment were a temporary jungle on Tuesday afternoon, protesting students of the Lagos State University (LASU) turning the premises to a battle arena with the state security forces.
Signs of a security issue became eminent when armed officials of the State Rapid Response stationed vehicles at the two entrances to the Government House, office of Governor Babatunde Fashola in the afternoon. They also mounted surveillance at the area and prevented vehicles from entering.
However, the students, sensing danger, devised another means of gaining entrance. They scattered themselves, by-passed the security men and soon gathered at the main gate chanting anti-government songs to the surprise of the security men who wondered how they got to the gate.
Soon, the security men mobilised and started firing teargas at the students. They also pursued the students who ran in different directions to evade arrest. The students vowed to return.
For weeks now, the students have been protesting against the hike in tuition of the school imposed on them since 2012. While the least school fees increased from N25, 000 to N197, 000 and students of the College of Medicine are to pay about N350, 000.
Since the approval of the tuition granted by the state House of Assembly, there has not been peace at the institution. The lecturers of the institution are currently on strike, the management of LASU also shut it down after a protest.
The situation got embarrassing last week when the students stormed Governor Fashola’s office and started cooking beans for dinner. They told Huhuonline.com that they would spend days at the gate and that they came with mats and mattresses as well as bread and other foodstuff to keep them.
A discomfited government had appealed to the students and their parents promising to review the fees. The government also said the review was before the state Executive Council and that a decision would be reached soon.
However, the students have remained sceptical of the government’s promise. They promised to continue with the protests to keep government on its toes.