The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), FUT Minna chapter, has presented historical evidence confirming that the federal government acquired the Bosso campus outright in 1983. The union disclosed that a total compensation of ₦2.8 million was paid to the Niger State Government in two instalments to finalize the acquisition.
ASUU Chairman, Prof. Luqman Oyekunle Oyewobi, revealed that ₦500,000 was paid on July 22, 1983, followed by ₦2.3 million on December 14, 1983. He argued that in property law, such payment extinguishes prior ownership claims.
“In property law, such a payment, coupled with the transfer of possession, extinguishes prior ownership claims unless otherwise specified,” the statement noted.
Despite this record, the union has called for the immediate removal of the Pro Chancellor, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Santuraki. ASUU described him as unfit for the position, accusing him of bias during the attempted takeover of the campus by the state government. The union alleged that the Pro Chancellor pitched his tent with the government instead of protecting the university’s interests during a courtesy visit to Governor Muhammad Umaru Bago.
“At the close of the meeting, the governor publicly declared his intention to repossess the Bosso campus, claiming that it had been leased to the university and that the lease expired in 2023,” ASUU stated.
The union insisted that a lease cannot be presumed without explicit documentation. It noted that the Niger State Government formally notified the university of its intention to take over the campus on October 3, 2025. A further communication on November 27, 2025, urged the university to vacate the premises to avoid unpleasant developments.
Citing a directive from the National Universities Commission dated August 14, 2014, ASUU emphasized that take off campuses do not revert to state governments. The union warned that displacing the academic community would disrupt academic continuity. It stressed that the federal government has invested heavily in infrastructure on the campus over four decades, making it a thriving academic ecosystem for thousands of students and staff.
