Flood submerges Nasarawa university lecture halls

Floodwaters have submerged some lecture halls at the Faculty of Arts, Federal University of Lafia, in Nasarawa State, disrupting lectures in the affected departments. Some 200-level students, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed their frustration. They reported that the floods have severely disrupted their studies, making it difficult to hold lectures in the flooded […]

Floodwaters have submerged some lecture halls at the Faculty of Arts, Federal University of Lafia, in Nasarawa State, disrupting lectures in the affected departments.

Some 200-level students, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed their frustration. They reported that the floods have severely disrupted their studies, making it difficult to hold lectures in the flooded halls. 

One student said, “We are going through a difficult time. Our examinations are fast approaching, and our lecturers are struggling to conduct classes in these conditions.”

Students highlighted that some lectures had to be rescheduled, and many had to stand outside the lecture halls due to overcrowding and floodwater inside.

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They appealed to both federal and state governments to urgently address the situation, especially with second-semester exams approaching. They warned that without immediate action, the structural integrity of the university buildings could be compromised. 

The students criticised the placement of some university buildings in low-lying areas and urged the federal government to send land surveyors to address the persistent flooding issues.

However, the Nasarawa State government is taking steps to mitigate the effects of floods in vulnerable tertiary institutions across the state.

The Commissioner for Special Duties on Humanitarian Services and NGOs, Princess Margaret Elayo, disclosed this after inspecting the Multi-purpose Hall of the Faculty of Arts, which was heavily impacted by the flood.

Princess Elayo expressed concern over the situation and assured the university management of government support, urging students to remain calm as efforts are already underway to address the issue.

During her visit, Princess Elayo inspected several submerged lecture halls, including those for English and Literary Studies, History and International Studies within the Faculty of Arts. She also visited the Faculty of Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Visual and Creative Arts.

“The purpose of my visit is to gather first-hand information and to assess the extent of the damage caused by the floods,” she said.

She promised to engage with the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) to explore possible solutions and ensure the swift return of students to their normal academic activities.