WARRI – Students of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, have protested against new policies introduced by their school management.
The protesting students of who embarked on the protest in the early hours of Tuesday, barricaded the school section of Ughelli/Asaba Expressway and also locked the gate at the main entrance of the institution.
NIGERIAN OBSERVER gathered that the management of the institution had introduced new policies; one of such policies is the prohibition of students driving their vehicles into the school premises.
The protest left commuters plying the route stranded for over three hours as a result of the gridlock occasion by the gridlock on the ever busy Ughelli / Asaba express way until the intervention by security operatives who later removed the barricades to allow for free flow of traffic.
The protesting students led by officials of the Students Union Government ( SUG), described the new policies as anti-students and demanded a reversal by the school management .
Reacting to the students’ protest, the Rector of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Prof. Job Akpodiete, said that students were barred from driving their vehicles and motorcycles into the school premises for safety reasons.
According to him, the ban is to ‘prevent reckless driving’ resulting in incessant accidents within the campus.
Speaking with newsmen via telephone, Prof.Akpodiete said that, “the decision was taken by the school council, and not by the school management.
“The decision to bar students from driving into the school came as a result of incessant accidents within the campus.
“It’s not a new law. It’s a law that has always been there. It’s council decision. Management only implements council’s decisions.
“l had informed the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare of the protest.
“Okadas and Cars with tinted glasses cannot enter the school premises, because they are banned by government not us.
“Destruction and breaking of students’ legs and all that, were reasons (referring to accidents within campus). So, council took a decision on it.
“There are kekes (tricycles) that are put there for students to move to all parts of the campus.
“The Kekes are registered with the school security. It’s not a new policy.”
Prof Akpodiete, Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry and Animal Nutrition, said “I am not council but they are meeting and they will take their decisions.
“Management cannot reverse council’s decision. It’s only council that can review the ban.
“There’s no problem, everywhere is under control. The students are our children, and we will treat them as our children. When your children misbehave, you correct them.
“The demands of the protesting students would be looked into by council and management of the institution.” he added.
