Uncertainty has trailed the recent destruction of the top floor of the Bassey Asuquo Administrative Block at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), after a downpour reportedly left classified institutional and student records exposed to rainwater.

The windstorm, which lasted barely 20 minutes, tore off the roof of the Vice Chancellor’s office and the main floor of the Bassey Asuquo building. The damage, estimated to be worth millions of naira, affected the rooftops of high-rise structures, damaging critical facilities and documents stored in the affected offices.

This marks the second time this year that a violent wind has wrecked facilities at the institution. Beyond the recurring windstorms, the university also experiences severe flooding during heavy rainfall, as runoff from the surrounding area drains into the Great Qua River, which borders the southern end of the campus.

Despite these recurring environmental challenges, the authorities have yet to outline any concrete plan or timeline to mitigate the problem. Observers say years of unchecked expansion and deforestation of undeveloped portions of the campus may have worsened the environmental risks now facing the university.

The latest destruction, which has disrupted administrative activities, has prompted fresh debate about the need for stronger preventive measures to protect the university’s infrastructure and ensure a safer environment for learning and research.

A university-based pressure group, the Concerned University Community, comprising staff, students, and alumni, has accused the management of negligence and a possible cover-up.

In a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr. Bassey Obono, the group described the incident as evidence of “deep administrative lapses” and called for an independent probe into the matter. It questioned why only the affected building suffered extensive damage while other structures of similar height and design within the campus remained intact.

“Why were the other buildings not affected?” the statement queried, suggesting the damage might not have been entirely accidental.

The group also pointed to the timing of the incident, noting that the building had been closed for three days, from Monday, October 6, to Wednesday, October 8, before the roof and ceilings were reportedly uncovered.

“Could this closure be linked to attempts to conceal certain irregularities?” the statement asked. It added that the episode came amid ongoing controversies over admissions, employment disputes, and allegations of illegal deductions from staff salaries, issues that had recently sparked a two-day protest, from October 8 to 9, by members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union under the Joint Action Committee.

Obono further alleged that staff had been previously denied access to parts of the administrative block, purportedly to prevent the service of legal documents related to a disputed employment matter. “The circumstances surrounding this incident raise questions that should not be ignored,” he said, calling for transparency and accountability from the university’s leadership.

However, UNICAL management dismissed any suggestion of foul play, attributing the destruction to the violent windstorm that accompanied the rainfall in Calabar.

In a statement issued by the institution’s Information Unit, the management explained that the storm caused massive damage to the roof of the building housing the Registry and Audit Units, adding that the situation was under control.

“The necessary measures are being taken to ensure safety, restore operations, and safeguard important documents,” the statement read, noting that security personnel and members of the Works Department were immediately deployed to provide emergency support.

Meanwhile, the Concerned University Community insists that only a transparent and independent investigation can restore confidence in the institution’s handling of the incident. (The Guardian)