Students of UNICAL Nursing Department Protest After Portal Closure Over Alleged Overcrowding

 


Calabar, Nigeria — Tension erupted at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) after 200-level students of the Department of Nursing Sciences staged a protest following the reported closure of the school portal by the university management.



According to students, the Vice-Chancellor, Florence Obi, ordered the portal locked after it was discovered that the department had admitted more than 900 students — a figure said to be far above the approved quota for nursing programmes.




“Too Many Students” — Management Concern

Sources within the institution say the decision followed concerns about accreditation limits and regulatory compliance. In Nigeria, professional programmes such as nursing are subject to strict admission caps set by regulatory bodies and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Students allege they were informed that due to the oversubscription, many of them might be required to withdraw and reapply through JAMB, effectively restarting their academic journey — a development that triggered outrage.

Students Take to Protest

Videos circulating online show students chanting and demanding clarity from university authorities. Protesters expressed frustration, arguing that they were duly admitted, paid fees, attended lectures, and sat for examinations. Many questioned why they should bear the consequences of what they describe as administrative lapses.

“This is not our fault. We were given admission legally,” one protesting student was heard saying in a clip shared on social media.

Accreditation and Quota Issues

In Nigerian universities, nursing programmes must comply with standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), which determines the number of students institutions can admit based on available facilities, staffing, and clinical training capacity.

Education analysts say exceeding approved quotas can jeopardize accreditation status, potentially affecting graduates’ eligibility for professional licensing.

Awaiting Official Clarification

As of the time of this report, the university management has not issued a detailed public statement outlining the next steps for affected students. Calls are growing for transparent communication and a solution that protects students’ academic progress while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Parents and stakeholders have urged the federal authorities to intervene to prevent disruption to the students’ careers.

The situation continues to unfold

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