The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Friday condemned the barricade of its entrance by some students of the University of Abuja on May 14.

A statement issued in Abuja by Mr Nosike Ogbuenyi, Senior Assistant to the Minister of FCT, said the students were led by Friday Adayi, the university’s Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

According to the statement, the students made untennable demands that should have been channelled to the Federal Ministry of Education.

It alleged that the students had requested the FCTA to purchase a vehicle for their association, solve the water supply challenge at the university’s mini campus and furnish the common room of the association.

“It was wrong for the students to attempt to use force to compel government to fulfill requests that were not statutory responsibilities of the FCTA.

“The point should be stressed that it is not part of FCTA’s official responsibility to furnish the NANS chairman’s common room in the university or to provide internal infrastructure in federal universities.

“Similarly, government action on the kind of demands made by the students is discretionary and dependent on resource availability.

“Nonetheless, FCTA cherishes robust relationship with NANS, even though it frowns at any attempt to hold it to ransom by students over welfare and logistics demands by individuals or groups,’’ it said.

The statement further said that in spite of the untennable demands by the students, the FCT Education Secretary, Alhaji Kabir Usman, met with them and promised to look into their demands.

“The secretary announced that the request by the students for a donation of a vehicle to the FCT NANS was receiving attention and would be granted if funds become available,’’ it said.

It advised the students to desist from lawlessness in pursuing their demands, pledging that the administration would continue to support them as much as practicable.

“ It will equally continue to give logistics support to students’ organizations such as NANS provided that due process is followed and sufficient notice given in all cases.

“While we are doing this, we call on parents to always watch their children and wards closely by calling them to order whenever the need arises,’’ the statement said. (NAN)

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