On August 14, 2024, the Student Affairs Division at Usmanu Danfodiyo University indefinitely suspended Pen Press, the school’s student newspaper, over its publication of an article criticizing the university administration. 

On August 2, 2024, Pen Press published an article, titled “‘Health Threat: UDUS Students Face Wrath of Poor Drainage,” highlighting the poor drainage system in one of the university’s residence halls. Several days after its publication, Students’ Affairs Deputy Dean Mukjtar Tukar summoned editor-in-chief Abdulrasheed Akere to his office and questioned Akere on the article’s reporting methods. Tukar warned that the newspaper would be punished for tarnishing the university’s reputation for the third time. 

On August 14, Akere received a letter from the Student Affairs Office, ordering Pen Press to cease all publication, distribution, and news gathering due to the paper’s “potential harm to the university’s reputation and failure to adhere to journalistic standards.” 

After 16 days of public condemnation, the university revoked the paper’s suspension on August 29. 

Scholars at Risk is concerned about restrictions on free expression on campus resulting in the suspension of a student publication. Universities must respect academic freedom and nonviolent expressive conduct and refrain from actions intended to punish, restrict, or deter such conduct. Even when later reversed, restrictions on student expression undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://fij.ng/article/usman-danfodiyo-uni-bans-pen-press-from-journalism-over-report-it-doesnt-like/
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/727002-nigerian-university-suspends-campus-news-publication-over-critical-report.html
https://www.icirnigeria.org/usmanu-danfodiyo-university-bows-lifts-ban-on-press-club-16-days-after-suspension/