COVID-19: Six weeks after shut down, UNILAG reopens hostels for 2nd semester exams

Authorities at University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, have announced the resumption of physical activities on its main campus.

According to a statement signed by the institution’s registrar, Oladejo Azeez, this was for the purpose of the second-semester examination, which is scheduled to commence on August 26.

The release was titled, ‘Important notice: Schedule of accommodation of bonafide students with allocated bedspaces in hostels for second semester 2019-2020 in-person examination’.

The announcement comes six weeks after the university abruptly shut down its hostels over rising cases of the pandemic among students on the campus.

The university reverted to online mode of studies in July, accusing the students of not observing the instituted protocols against the spread of the disease.

However, UNILAG in its latest statement has said appropriate measures have been taken to guide against the resurgence of the virus on the campus. This is as students are warned to steer clear of the hostels if they are not legal occupants.

Azeez, in the statement, noted that all the extant rules and regulations with the associated penalties guiding hostel residency are still applicable for compliance by all students.

He said all the eligible hostel occupants are also expected to abide by the guidelines for admittance into the hostels.

The statement partly reads;

On the authority of Senate, the University presents this schedule to accommodate legal occupants in the hostels for the In-Person 2nd semester 2019_2020 examinations.

Eligible Students are expected to abide strictly by the schedule and guidelines for admittance into the Halls of Residence.

(They) must be registered for the 2nd semester 2019-2020 session, present coloured Exam Docket for 2nd semester 2019-2020 Exams, present a bottle of hand sanitizer (Minimum of 500ml), present at least 10 face masks, wear face mask into and out of the hostels at all times, must use their allocated bed spaces.

The Schedule for accommodation for examinations is as follows: 100 and 200-level students with allocated bed space should move into the hostels from Thursday 26 August 2021 and depart on or before Saturday 11 September 2021.

500-level Faculty of Law Students with allocated bed space should move into their hostels on Saturday 28 August and depart on Sunday 5 September 2021.

300-level students with allocated bed space should move into their hostels on Saturday 11 September and depart on Saturday 18 September 2021.

400 and 500-level students with allocated bed space should move into their hostels on Saturday 18 September and depart on Sunday 26 September 2021.

Extant rules and regulations with associated penalties for hostel residency are still applicable and must be obeyed by all students.

Towards guiding against untoward eventualities, the university also said arrangements have been made with its teaching hospital arm and a nearby general hospital owned by Lagos State Government for possible isolation of cases.

Special arrangements have been made with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Gbagada General Hospital for necessary isolation and treatment of any incidence of COVID-19 case during the examinations. The statement said.