UNILORIN don urges FG to ease hardship, strengthen local refineries
By Abubakar Abdulquadri
The Acting Director, Centre for Cybersecurity and Sustainable Development, University of Ilorin, Dr Lukman Abiodun Olawoyin, has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts towards alleviating the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians, particularly University staff and students.
Dr Olawoyin made this appeal last Tuesday (March 31, 2026)while speaking with UNILORIN Bulletin on the adverse effects of the persistent rise in fuel prices across the country.
The don expressed concerns over the continuous surge in pump prices of petroleum products, noting that it has placed significant financial strain on the citizens.
According to Dr Olawoyin, the Federal Government must prioritise the effective functioning of local refineries to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign exchange.
“We must ensure that our local refineries are fully operational so that Nigerians will not remain at the mercy of the dollar,” he said.
Speaking on campus security, Dr Olawoyin highlighted several measures adopted by the University management to safeguard the lives and property of members of the University community. These include the enforcement of identity card usage among students, engagement of trained security personnel, deployment of modern technology, and the introduction of smart security systems. He also stressed the need for continuous training and retraining of campus security operatives.
The Director further urged students and staff to remain vigilant and security-conscious at all times. He encouraged them to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could help prevent security breaches. He also advised against unnecessary night travels.
Dr Olawoyin, who is a former Head of the Department of Telecommunications Science, advised members of the University community to remain law-abiding and uphold both moral and spiritual values.
He equally encouraged students to stay focused on their academic pursuits, urging them to explore only legal and ethical opportunities while striving for excellence in their studies.
