KEY POINTS
- UNILAG has begun investigating reports of possible water contamination after students complained of vomiting and diarrhoea.
- The university has suspended water supply from an affected borehole and provided alternative sources of water.
- Laboratory tests are ongoing, while both management and the Students’ Union say no confirmed link has yet been established between the illnesses and the water supply.
The University of Lagos, UNILAG, has launched an investigation into reports of possible contamination of water supplied to some students’ hostels following concerns over several cases of illness among residents.
Anxiety spread across the UNILAG campus on Wednesday after some students, particularly in a female hostel, reportedly experienced symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and other health complications. The affected UNILAG students alleged that contaminated water supplied to some halls of residence might have been responsible for the illnesses.
Reacting to the development, the UNILAG spokesperson, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, said the management had taken the matter seriously and had commenced urgent investigations.
According to her, relevant departments have begun a comprehensive examination of the institution’s water supply network. Water quality tests are also being carried out to determine whether the reports are accurate and to identify any possible health risks.
She noted that immediate measures had been introduced to safeguard the welfare and health of students while the investigation continues.
Alaga-Ibraheem urged members of the UNILAG community to avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing panic, assuring that updates would be released through official channels after the assessment is completed.
Management Reaffirms Commitment to Students’ Safety
The UNILAG management reiterated its commitment to maintaining a safe and conducive learning environment, promising to address any issues uncovered during the investigation.
The institution assured students and parents that every necessary action would be taken to protect residents and ensure that campus facilities remain safe.
The University of Lagos Students’ Union Government (SUG) also confirmed that it had been monitoring the situation and engaging relevant authorities.
In a statement, SUG President Akinpelu Bolaji said ongoing investigations had not established any direct connection between the reported illnesses and the hostel water supply.
He explained that medical personnel at the university’s health centre had not linked the health complaints to the water system, adding that some of the affected students live outside the campus.
Bolaji disclosed that following reports of discoloured water in one of the hostel blocks, inspections traced the problem to a borehole serving the facility.
As a precautionary measure, the university immediately shut down the affected water source and made alternative arrangements to provide water to residents.
He further revealed that water samples had been collected from various hostels and sent for laboratory analysis, with results expected within 48 hours.