Downpour wreaks havoc at UI as Senate orders immediate closure of Alexander Brown Hall

No fewer than seven buildings  at  the University of  lbadan (UI)  were badly damaged as a result of  a downpour  on Friday night.
Some of the buildings include the Students Union Government building, two halls of residence and  the Chemistry Laboratory of the institution’s  International School.
Others were the  Tedder  and Bello Halls,  some  structures in the Faculty of Agriculture as well as  the  electric transformer at the SUG  building.
Addressing newsmen on Saturday  while assessing the extent  of damage,  the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Emilolorun Aiyelari, described the incident  as unfortunate.
Aiyelari  said that the institution had  yet to determine the cost of repairing the damage, adding, however, that the incident would not affect academic activities.
“We have recorded a lot of damage, unquantified  for now, but we will soon be able to know how much it will cost.
“This will not affect our academic activities because our students are on holiday except for the post graduate students writing their projects.
“ You know we are resuming on the 16th of this month. We will have enough time to repair them,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Academic Board of College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, has ordered the immediate closure of the Alexander Brown Hall until further notice.
The University Registrar, Mr Olujimi Olukoya, via a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday, said the decision was taken by the academic board on Friday.
Olukoya said the board in the meeting considered the situation report with respect to students’ agitation, regarding an upward review of the professional training and accommodation fees as approved by the senate.
“In view of the security threat that the students’ action may pose, the board, therefore, recommended an immediate closure of the Alexander Brown Hall until further notice with a review of the situation in two weeks.
“Consequently, the Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of senate has approved the recommendation of the Academic Board of the College.
“Students resident in the Alexander Brown Hall are, therefore, directed to vacate the hall on or before 12noon of Saturday, 7 April, 2018.”
The students’ resident in the Alexander Brown Hall had on April 6, staged a protest over increase in the accommodation fees as approved by the senate.