Ahead of the planned movement of the University to its Permanent Site in Felele, the leaders of the host community where the land is situated have pledged their support for the University. This was disclosed at a meeting between the host community and the Management of Federal University Lokoja led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Angela Freeman Miri. The meeting which took place on Wednesday, 13^th November, 2019 at the Ancient Royal House of Isegba-Obah Felele in Oworo Land, had in attendance the paramount leader of the community, Alhaji Abdulkadir Hassan, Member representing Lokoja II Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Idris Ndako Muhammad who is also the Chairman of the community, amongst other distinguished leaders of Isegba-Obah Felele Community.

The Vice-Chancellor on behalf of the Federal Government expressed appreciation to the host community for donating their land for the expansion and development of the University. On the issue of payment of compensation to the community, the Vice-Chancellor said she had been making frantic efforts at both Federal and State levels and that it had reached advanced stage. She promised to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion, stressing that the issue of payment of compensation to the community is non-negotiable. Prof. Miri, who had earlier received the leaders of the community in her office in September 2019, commended the peaceful manner in which the host community has been pursuing the issue of compensation due to them, saying they have displayed high level of understanding in their quest.

The Vice-Chancellor equally used the opportunity to dispel some of the misconceptions and uproar that followed the recent employment done by the University stating the University Management followed due process. She said the allegations leveled against her were baseless and sponsored by mischief-makers to malign and disparage her personality. She said the host communities as well as other States of the Federation were duly considered in the recruitment since it is a Federal University.

In his reaction, the Chairman of the Community and Member representing Lokoja II Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Idris Ndako Muhammad thanked the University Management for their show of sportsmanship. He promised to collaborate with the University especially in the area of community policing by identifying and enlisting able-bodied youths that will form Vigilantes in order to guarantee the security of lives and property around the Permanent Site.

The leaders of the community equally presented some of their demands before the University Management at the meeting.

 

 

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