Seven students of the Kwara State Polytechnic (Kwarapoly), Ilorin, Kwara state reportedly sustained varying degrees of injury during a fire incident at a gas refilling shop near a student hostel.

The fire incident, which occurred at Destiny Villa, Dola Abinbola Street, Elekoyangan area in the Ilorin East local government area of the state late Saturday night, also involved a gas attendant.

The Head of Department media and publicity of the state Fire Service, Hakeem Adekunle, on behalf of the director of the service, Prince Falade John, said that the fire started when a gas attendant at a nearby gas shop was refilling a gas cylinder, positioned several meters above ground level.

“The cylinder fell and exploded, concurrently releasing gas from the charged hose used for refilling. This exacerbated the fire, resulting in injuries to seven Kwara State Polytechnic students and the gas attendant.

“The firemen promptly departed from the station and upon arrival at the scene, they encountered a building with about 17 self-contained rooms fully ablaze. Four rooms were affected, and eight individuals sustained injuries”.

The fireman said that a total estimated property lost was valued at N14.6 million, while a total estimated property saved was N72.2 million.

In response to the incident, Director of Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, dispatched his team to check on the affected students on Sunday, November 19, 2023.

The Director also urged the members of the public to prioritise safety measures to prevent fire disaster

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) have commended the Federal Government for cancelling the deduction of 40 per cent from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Federal universities.

Both unions applauded President Bola Tinubu for toeing the path of peace.

The ASUU Chairman, Nasarawa State University, Keffi chapter, Prof. Samuel Alu, described it as “one of the best decisions taken by this administration in recent times.”

Alu, therefore, asked the government to revisit the Nimi Briggs committee recommendations of the ASUU-FGN renegotiation.

“There shouldn’t be any shame in retraction if you have a superior argument over any matter. This is commendable and should be sustained,” he said.

On his part, CONUA National President, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, called on the Federal Government to pay the eight-month withheld salaries of members, even as he described the news as a ‘welcome development’.

Sunmonu said that the decision would have had adverse effect on the ivory tower had it been implemented.

The academic tasked the FG to explore ingenious ways of improving funding in the universities for the overall benefit of the nation rather than dipping its hands into the coffers of tertiary institutions.

He said: “It appeared the various negative reactions that greeted the announcement of the policy were not lost on the president. The FG should know that our universities are struggling to cope in the face of dwindling resources and will eventually have negative impact on the growth of the nation.

“So, CONUA is of the opinion that the government should not stop at this cancellation, but must effect ingenious ways of improving funding in the universities for the overall benefit of the nation.”

Tinubu, had through his Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced the cancellation of the planned 40 per cent deduction at the Founder’s Day ceremony of the University of Ibadan (UI)