Fear Over Insecurity Prompt Aliko Dangote University of Science And Technology to Relocate Student Fieldwork From Niger State to Kano
Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH), Wudil, has relocated a planned eight-week fieldwork exercise for over 300 Level 400 Fisheries students from New Bussa, Niger State, to Tiga Dam in Kano State due to security concerns. The university said the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Musa Yakasai, had earlier rejected the proposed trip after reviewing security reports. Management emphasized that student safety remains a top priority and assured parents that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure a successful and secure training exercise at the new location. The decision reflects growing caution among tertiary institutions as insecurity continues to affect academic activities across Nigeria.
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Management of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology has relocated a planned academic fieldwork exercise for Level 400 Fisheries students from New Bussa in Niger State to Tiga Dam in Kano State following growing concerns over insecurity in the proposed destination.
The decision came amid rising fears among parents, guardians, and other stakeholders regarding the safety of over 300 students expected to participate in the mandatory eight-week practical training programme.
According to the university, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Musa Yakasai, had earlier declined approval for the trip after reviewing security reports about the situation in New Bussa.
In a statement issued by the Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Affairs, Abdullahi Datti Abdullahi, the institution emphasized that the safety and welfare of students remain a top priority in all academic and extracurricular activities.
The statement revealed that the Vice-Chancellor had expressed reservations about the proposed destination long before public concerns intensified.
“When the idea of going to New Bussa in Niger State came up, the Vice Chancellor, who was already aware of the security situations in the area, had long ago rejected the trip,” the statement said.
Following the cancellation, the university directed the Department of Fisheries to identify a safer location that would still provide students with the practical exposure required for the field exercise.
After consultations, Tiga Dam in Kano State was selected as the new venue for the training programme.
“The students are now going to Tiga Dam in Kano for the mandatory exercise,” the statement added.
The university reassured parents and guardians that there was never any intention to expose students to security risks amid the increasing incidents of kidnappings, banditry, and violent attacks reported in some parts of the country.
“The university management never jokes with students’ safety and welfare within and off campus,” Abdullahi stated.
The clarification follows widespread concerns among families who reportedly opposed the proposed trip to Niger State, citing the prevailing security challenges and dangers associated with interstate travel in some northern regions.
Education stakeholders have repeatedly urged tertiary institutions to place student safety at the center of decisions involving excursions, industrial attachments, and fieldwork programmes that require travel outside campus environments.
Observers say the university’s decision reflects a growing trend among higher institutions to review academic activities in response to security concerns affecting different parts of Nigeria.
Despite the relocation, the university maintained that the field exercise remains a vital component of the Fisheries programme, providing students with hands-on experience necessary for their professional development.
Management also assured students that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure the success of the exercise at the new location while maintaining strict safety measures throughout the programme.
