COVID-19: Polytechnic speaks on mass eviction of Nigerian students by landlords

The authorities of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, is holding a special meeting on Monday with landlords in the school host communities, in a bid to stop the mass eviction of students from their apartments over unpaid rent, it was learnt.

The meeting, called by the student affairs department of the polytechnic, is going to have traditional leaders, police officials, local vigilante, and the representatives of the students union in attendance.

The students of the polytechnic, who are just returning to school after about eight months of forced holiday because of COVID-19, are under pressure from landlords to renew their annual rent which had expired by December.

The students were away from their apartments during the forced break.

Some of the landlords have also announced rent increases.

Many of the polytechnic students, who have chosen to stay off-campus, live in clusters of houses ‘lodges’, built with the students as targets.

Some of them have already been evicted by landlords who, like millions of other Nigerians, are under financial pressure because of the country’s deteriorating economy.

“Normally, rent due is the right of the landlord but these are abnormal times that require exchange of ideas and peaceful resolutions,” said Okafo Okoreaffia, the dean of student affairs, in an invite sent to the landlords and others for the meeting.

“As foster parents of these students, their welfare and security are always paramount in our minds and I am happy to note that many of you share the same concern,” Mr Okoreaffia added.

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