Students of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State have blocked the busy East–West Road in protest after a leaked internal memo revealed plans by the school management to increase tuition fees by over 100 percent.
The controversial document, reportedly emanating from the Office of the Registrar, proposed that final-year students’ fees be raised from ₦87,500 to ₦190,000, while returning students would pay ₦144,000 for the 2025/2026 academic session.
News of the planned increment, which was expected to take effect in two weeks according to the new academic calendar, sparked outrage across campus.
Students accused the university management of “deliberate insensitivity” and demanded an immediate reversal of the proposed fees.
Although the university management later issued a disclaimer, claiming it did not approve the memo, students dismissed the denial as a cover-up.
The students cited evidence that the document originated from within the Registrar’s office.
The disclaimer reads: “The attention of the University Management has been drawn to the memo circulating on social media in connection with the students charges for the 2025/2026 academic session
“Management wishes to state categorically that the said document did not emanate from the University.
“Consequently, Management urges all students to disregard the information and go about their normal academic activities.”
Sources told the media that the Students’ Union Government (SUG) had earlier advised that any review of tuition should not exceed ₦100,000, a position the management reportedly ignored.
Instead of publishing a clear breakdown of the approved charges, the university only released the disclaimer.
According to sources from the school community, the protest was spontaneous, not organised by the SUG.
The Union’s President, Comrade Etiosa Oghenemaro, was also seen appealing to students to maintain peace and move away from the highway, but many refused, insisting they would not leave until the management provided a transparent explanation.
As tension escalated, the university’s Senate convened an emergency meeting and ordered an immediate shutdown of the institution.
A memo was issued directing all students to vacate their hostels within two hours, later extended to the following morning.
The memo reads: “Senate at its emergency meeting held on Wednesday 8th October, 2025 considered the situation within and outside the University premises in the early hours of Wednesday 8th October 2025 which led to the barricade of the East West Road, by the students thereby causing obstruction of traffic flow.
“Consequent upon the above, Senate resolved that the 2024/2025 session comes to an end with effect from Wednesday, 8th October 2025.
“Accordingly all students are by this resolution directed to vacate the University Halls of residence and premises on or before 6:00 PM on Wednesday. 8 October 2025.
“Any student who fails to comply with the Senate resolution will be made to face disciplinary action in accordance with the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of students in the University.”
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