By Ghazali Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has established a new federal university in Lagos State barely months after his administration imposed a seven-year moratorium on the creation of new public tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced on Thursday that Tinubu has assented to the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe Establishment Bill 2025, officially creating the institution in Epe, Lagos.
“It is my honour to announce that the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe Establishment Bill 2025 has been assented to by Mr President,” Akpabio said during plenary.
According to him, two certified copies of the authenticated bill were returned to the Senate with the President’s signature, “cementing the university’s establishment.”
The decision has raised eyebrows because in August, the Federal Government under Tinubu’s leadership placed a moratorium on creating new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The move was justified on grounds of overstretched resources, proliferation of institutions and worsening academic quality in existing public schools.
Nigeria presently has about 72 federal universities and over 70 other federally funded polytechnics and colleges.
Meanwhile, more than 200 pending bills seeking new public universities are still awaiting legislative action at the National Assembly.
Despite this, the Senate President celebrated the development as a sign of the government’s commitment to expanding access to specialised education, congratulating the people of Epe and Lagos State.
The bill was sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and seconded by Deputy Majority Leader Oyelola Ashiru.
While supporters welcome the promise of more STEM-focused opportunities, critics argue the decision undermines the government’s own policy and could further strain Nigeria’s already burdened tertiary education system.
