The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Professor Francisca Bassey, has raised concerns over the absence of perimeter fencing to effectively secure the University’s campuses.
Professor Bassey raised the concerns when the Director of the Homeland Security and Safety Agency (South), Chief Michael Nsan, and his team paid a courtesy visit to her office.
Receiving the team, the Vice Chancellor explained that the lack of fencing has exposed the Calabar, Ogoja, and Okuku campuses to various security challenges, including vandalisation of properties, theft, attacks on students, flooding, and land encroachment.
She noted that the University continues to lose critical infrastructure such as windows, doors, electrical installations, air-condition and cables.
Prof. Bassey cited the University’s new auditorium, Okuku campus Store, the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Education, and the Staff School as facilities that have recently suffered vandalisation of valuable property.
She added that offices of some Lecturers had also been ransacked by thieves.
According to her, “It is painful that as we fix facilities, they are vandalized again. This cycle is unsustainable and poses risks to both our students and staff.”
The Vice Chancellor further identified inadequate remuneration of outsourced security personnel, insufficient patrol vehicles, and the absence of modern surveillance systems as additional factors limiting efforts to effectively secure the three campuses of UNICROSS.
She described the visit of the Homeland Security and Safety Agency as timely and appealed for assistance in addressing the challenges.
Earlier in his address, Chief Michael Nsan, explained that the visit was in line with the Agency’s mandate to assess government-owned facilities and recommend practical ways of enhancing safety.
He stated: “Our Governor takes security very seriously. We are here to understand the University’s specific challenges and work with Management to identify solutions that will strengthen its security architecture. We want to ensure that in the event of any emergency, the university and the state security architecture can work in sync to guarantee safety.”
Also speaking, the Chief Security Officer of UNICROSS, Mr. Iwara Ibiang, called for stronger and more sustainable approaches to preventing criminal activities on campus. He emphasized that beyond routine security checks, there must be arrests and prosecution of offenders, adding that the development of a comprehensive security database would further help to deter criminal activities.
The visit concluded with assurances of collaboration between UNICROSS and the Homeland Security and Safety Agency to ensure a safer and more conducive environment for teaching and learning across the University.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Thomas Ojikpong; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor Stella Maris-Okey; the Registrar, Dr. Catherine Osai; the University Librarian, Dr. Victoria Iyishu; the Bursar, Mr. Wilson Aniyom; the Chief Security Officer, Mr. Iwara Ibiang; and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Onen Ebri Onen, joined the Vice Chancellor in receiving the Homeland Security and Safety Agency team.