Students at the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, Kebbi State, have “set the residence of the Provost, Alhaji Haruna Saidu-Sauwa, on fire” and “vandalised his vehicle.”

The protest began due to allegations that the college management “extorted N23m from the students” for “index registration for 250 graduating students.”

According to a source, the controversy started with a newly introduced Public Health programme initially affiliated with the Reproductive Health and the Public Health Association of Nigeria.

The college then merged the programme with the Department of Environmental Health, leading to a demand for an additional “N65,000 from each student for index registration,” on top of the “N30,000 already paid.”

In response to the allegations of extortion, the students resorted to violent actions, including “stoning vehicles and setting the provost’s residence on fire.”

Several staff members fled before security personnel arrived.

The provost, Saidu-Sauwa, described the allegations as “fictitious, baseless and mischievous,” denying any involvement in extorting students.

He stated that the college uses a “Single Treasury Account” where all funds are deposited, and “no one has access to the account, including me.”

He further claimed that the protest was fueled by an anonymous source attempting to discredit the college, urging students and staff to “exercise restraint” while the cause of the unrest is fully investigated.

Following the intervention of security agencies, normalcy has returned to the college.

The Kebbi State Police Command indicated that more details will be provided after a report from the Divisional Police Officer in Jega is available.

The Nigerian army has urged the public to provide support in the fight against terrorism. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, noted that Nigeria is facing “asymmetric warfare” with non-state actors operating in various parts of the country.

In a video message on Friday, Musa emphasized that while the army is dedicated to restoring peace, success requires a “whole-of-society approach.”

He mentioned that Nigeria has a significant history of peacekeeping efforts both in Africa and internationally. Musa outlined the country’s current security challenges, including “Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast,” “banditry in the northwest,” “pipeline vandalism and sea piracy in the south-south,” and IPOB’s push for “secession” in the southeast.

Despite these ongoing issues, the armed forces are fully committed to ensuring peace across the nation. Musa also highlighted efforts to enhance “troop welfare” and training, aimed at creating a sense of normalcy in markets, schools, and the economy, especially in affected regions.

He reassured Nigerians that the military is a professional force focused on fulfilling its mission to restore “peace and security.” Musa urged the public to continue supporting the “government, the armed forces, and other security agencies” in this effort.

He concluded by stating, “We cannot do it alone… Together, we will succeed.”

The Lagos state government has called on residents living along the Ogun riverbanks to “relocate to higher grounds” due to the planned water release from Oyan dam by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA).

Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner for environment and water resources, emphasized that the relocation is crucial as the release is part of the dam’s annual operations, which are guided by “real-time hydrological data,” rainfall forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, and flood outlook reports from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

Wahab explained that releasing water from the dam will help “preserve the integrity of the dam” and mitigate its socio-economic impacts on Lagos.

Although rainfall in the Oyan river catchment area reached 984.1 mm in 2024, lower than the 1,540.8 mm recorded in 2023, it is still considered “within safe operational levels.”

He noted that current water releases are at 208 m³/s, with “only two gates opened at 12 percent capacity each,” ensuring controlled discharge.

Additionally, 62.1 percent of the dam’s flood control capacity is still intact, which means there is no imminent risk of releasing excess water beyond safe limits.

Acknowledging the difficulties faced by residents in affected areas like Kara, Mile 12, Agiliti, Ikosi Ketu, Owode, Ajegunle, and Odo-Ogun, Wahab pointed out that “while the flooding experienced in these areas has often been attributed solely to water released from the Oyan Dam, this is not entirely the case.”

He further clarified that the downstream section of the Ogun River is influenced by “a complex network of over 52 tributaries” that contribute to rising water levels.

Wahab added that the OORBDA has started dredging the Ogun River from Ikorodu to the Isheri axis as a proactive measure to “deepen the river channel and enhance its capacity to carry water,” which will reduce the risk of flooding during periods of high inflow.

He assured that the state government will “continue to closely monitor the situation” and work with relevant agencies and communities to address the challenges.

Wahab urged Lagos residents to avoid “indiscriminate dumping of waste” in unauthorized areas, refrain from littering roads with pet bottles, and stop blocking drains with silt or construction materials.

He also warned against “constructing buildings within and around drainages” and discharging human waste into drains and canals.

In conclusion, Wahab appealed to residents to “support our efforts by complementing the government through regular clearing of drains on their frontages.”