- Clearing Of Overgrown Areas Begins As Management Moves To Improve Campus Security And Road Access
By Princely Onyenwe | News Desk
OWERRI, IMO STATE — Host communities of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) have applauded the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ikechukwu Nosike Simplicius Dozie, for embarking on the opening and clearing of overgrown bushes within the university environment as part of efforts to improve visibility and strengthen campus security.
The communities, including Ihiagwa, Nekede, Obinze, Eziobodo, Emeabiam, Okolochi Olokwu and others expressed their appreciation during a recent visit by journalists to some of the ongoing bush-opening sites within the university.
Speaking during the inspection, the Chairman of the FUTO Task Force on Lands and Holdings, Chief Ndubuisi Iheakam Okata, described the exercise as a timely intervention by the university management to open up previously overgrown areas and improve visibility across the institution.
Okata said the latest phase of the bush-opening exercise, extending from the NDDC area towards Eastman Junction, had commenced, adding that clearing the vegetation would reduce concealed spaces and make previously obscured locations more visible.
The intervention comes amid security concerns within and around the university following reported attacks involving students and other members of the university community.
The latest major incident was the shooting of a Polaris Bank branch manager, Mr Osita Onuoha, who was attacked after driving into the university environment to drop his children. The incident occurred in broad daylight, while investigation into the circumstances continues.
Other reported security incidents involving students have also heightened concerns among members of the university community, host communities and other stakeholders.
FUTO management has continued to engage relevant stakeholders and host communities in consultations aimed at developing sustainable measures to improve security within the institution and its surrounding areas.
The bush-opening exercise has also commenced from the university’s first entrance gate towards Umuanuanu Junction in Obinze, with the work expected to extend to other strategic areas of the institution.
Okata said opening up the overgrown areas would improve visibility and assist security personnel and other stakeholders in monitoring locations that were previously obscured by thick vegetation.
Crowds of observers at inspection sites have urged the Vice Chancellor to sustain the initiative, describing it as a positive immediate intervention towards creating a safer environment for students, staff, visitors and residents who regularly pass through the university.
The host communities similarly welcomed the exercise, expressing optimism that improved visibility around the university would complement other security measures and contribute to the safety of the institution and adjoining communities.
The Vice Chancellor has also assured stakeholders that the university management will commence palliative measures on some of the deteriorated access roads linking the institution, with the aim of making them more motorable and safer for students, staff and other road users.
The ongoing bush opening, stakeholder engagement and planned road interventions are expected to complement broader efforts by FUTO management and security stakeholders to improve safety and accessibility within the university and its host communities.
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