Academic and administrative activities were ground to a halt on Monday at the Ondo State College of Health Technology, Akure, as students blocked all entry points in protest over what they described as extortion and worsening conditions on campus.
The students, who stormed the school gate at daybreak, brandished placards with inscriptions including “Health Tech With Poor Environment,” “Stop Extortion Now,” “We Are Tired,” and “No Solution, No Exams,” effectively preventing staff from accessing the premises.
Chanting solidarity songs and lighting bonfires, the aggrieved students vowed that no lectures, tests or examinations would hold until the institution addresses complaints of dilapidated classrooms, overcrowded hostels, non-functional laboratories and erratic water supply.
Some angry students accused unnamed officials of imposing additional fees despite the alleged breakdown of basic learning amenities, alleging that earlier appeals to the college authorities had been ignored.
In a swift response, the Rector of the institution, Dr. Oluwole Oluwanbe, dismissed allegations of extortion but assured the students that the state government was already aware of their concerns and would step in to address genuine issues.
As of Monday afternoon, the school remained shut, with tension lingering on the campus.