Kebbi Govt Probes AFUST Crisis, Inaugurates Visitation Panel to Restore Stability

|By Adejumo Adekunle

The Kebbi State Government has inaugurated a visitation panel to probe deepening administrative and academic crises at the Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology (AFUST), Aliero.

Governor Nasir Idris inaugurated the panel on Monday at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi, signalling a decisive move to resolve prolonged internal disputes that have continued to disrupt activities at the institution.

The panel is chaired by a former Minister of Science and Technology and pioneer Vice-Chancellor of AFUST, Professor Muhammad Abubakar Ka’oje. According to the state government, the intervention became necessary following sustained disagreements between the university management and the governing council, which persisted despite earlier efforts by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Governor Idris said the lingering crisis had severely undermined both academic and administrative operations, raising serious concerns at one point about the effective functioning of the governing council and the university’s management.

He noted that the unresolved conflicts had eroded stability within the institution, making urgent intervention unavoidable.

The visitation panel has been mandated to critically examine the root causes of the disputes and submit actionable recommendations aimed at restoring order, efficiency, and institutional harmony at AFUST.

The governor also directed the university management to fully cooperate with the panel by releasing all relevant documents, including financial records, to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.

Speaking on behalf of the panel, Professor Ka’oje assured that members would approach the assignment with objectivity and professionalism, pledging to propose solutions that would safeguard the long-term interest and integrity of the university.