By SUNNY OKIM

The Nigerian Law School, which is managed by the Council of Legal Education, is one of the failed national institutions in the country in terms of total collapse of infrastructure, News Express investigation reveals.

The Kano campus of the Nigerian Law School, according to our sources, is particularly an eyesore.

Out of the compulsory Two Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand Naira (N295,000.00) each student is charged as total fees payable to the institution for the one year course after graduation from the university, Ninety Three Thousand Naira (N93,00.00) goes for maintenance and development of facilities on the campus.

The breakdown of the N93,00.00 is as follows: Hostel Accommodation N30,000, Hostel Caution Deposit N10,000, Development Levy N20,000, and Facilities Maintenance N33,000.

News Express investigation however reveals that the condition of hostel accommodation at the Kano campus is nothing to write home about.

A student who pleaded anonymity told our Correspondent that maintenance of the facilities is very poor.

“It has been really bad. The bathrooms and toilets are in terrible shape not to talk of the rooms with too many occupants. We sleep on tiny bunks and it is too tight for five girls in a room in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. You won’t believe we are still climbing bunk beds, which is very draining. We sleep and wake up with body aches every morning. There are no wardrobes to put clothes. I mean, it’s just too cramped.”

Talking specifically about toilet facilities, another student said, “The toilets have blocked pipes and the whole structure can collapse at any time. You can imagine 30 students to one toilet – no water. It makes it very difficult to use the toilets. That makes us wait till it is dark for us to go to the field or any open space to take our bath and defecate. It is horrible here.”

There is hardly electric light on the campus too. Another student said this was part of the reasons for poor academic performances by students of the Kano campus of the Nigerian Law School.

“It has not been pleasant at all. The issue of electricity is a major problem. After 10pm, the lights from the generator are put off. This contributes a whole lot to the damning academic performances of students. It plays a huge role in the failure of the Bar final examination. Something should be done about this as the major time for reading is mostly at night and early mornings,” said the student.

And the classrooms are no better. They are said to be congested. The seats are purportedly uncomfortable and low, which hurts when one sits down on them for a long time.

As one student captures it, “The classrooms are cramped, not enough seats, damaged chairs, electrical dysfunction with intermittent sparks from the roof during lectures. We can't hear lecturers from behind.”

Insecurity is another issue at the campus as security checks are allegedly not put in place.

It is said that the gatemen do not check cars going into the campus, and the fear is that unauthorized persons have easy access in these times of acute insecurity in the country. It is also said that there are no campus street lights which makes the place very unsafe.

The students also complained of difficulties in obtaining cash while on campus, as there are no banks or ATM available. The only means of withdrawing cash is by POS which attracts instant 30 per cent interest.

It is alleged that many students who went to Kano city to withdraw cash from bank ATM in other to avoid high deductions from POS ended up falling victims to armed robbers.

A student recalled how she begged a fellow student for transport fare to town because she had no cash and the few POS on campus were not functioning that day due to bad network.

A frightful aspect of all these is the presence of dangerous reptiles such as snakes on Kano campus.

One student claimed to have seen snakes a couple of times while another student said he was once bitten by an unknown reptile/insect at night which caused his eye problem and kidney infection.

“The first day I resumed, a friend's bag was eaten by squirrels just by the Porter's. All her garri was wasted because the squirrels ate part of it,” said another student.

“I haven't personally had any experience, but I got back from lecture one day and heard my roommates saying they saw a snake crawling out of the room,” revealed yet another student.

The students are calling on the authorities to undertake a total renovation of the Kano campus of the Nigerian Law School, build more hostels and classrooms on the vast land available, provide ATM as well as improve security.

“We pay high tuition fees. Let the authorities reduce tuition fee or provide improved facilities. They should develop the campus generally,” pleaded Risikat (not real name) who said she was making the request on behalf of her course mates.

New Express reached out to the Director of Academics, Nigerian Law School Kano campus, Dr. Obiokoye Esq. He said he was not in a position to say anything as he was not authorized to speak to the press;

Dr Obiokoye advised our reporter to direct his questions to the Director General in Abuja but would not provide the DG’s contact.

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