UNIZIK Fines Littering As Sanitation Efforts Fail
By Chioma Emerenini
For years, sanitation has remained a persistent problem across Nnamdi Azikiwe University, despite repeated efforts by the school authorities to curb it.
The university carried out environmental outreach programmes, sent officials round the campus to sensitize students and staff on proper waste disposal, provided large waste bins at various faculties, which included places like, the Faculty of Management Sciences and both the old and new Faculty of Social Sciences buildings, alongside designated recycling bins for plastic disposal across the community.
Yet, despite these interventions, little changed, Littering and improper waste continued largely, that left the university with what it described as “no option but to enforce compliance through fines”
The UNIZIK Centre for Environmental Services and Sanitation (ESS) therefore announced fresh sanctions for littering and improper waste disposal across the university, with penalties ranging from ₦5,000 to ₦50,000, effective immediately.
In a notice dated 28th August, 2026, the Directorate said the measure is part of a renewed commitment to keeping the campus “clean, healthy, safe, and environmentally sustainable.” The directive covers everyone within the university community; students, staff, visitors, contractors, service providers, commercial operators, and transport operators, along with any individual or organisation that lives, works, or does business on university premises.
Under the new penalty structure, students, staff, visitors, and other individual offenders will pay a minimum fine of ₦5,000, while businesses, contractors, commercial operators, bus and tricycle (keke) operators, traders, and other corporate entities face fines of ₦50,000 and above.
The notice, signed by Prof. Damian Chigozie Ezeonyejiaku, Director of the ESS Centre, urged members of the university community to make proper use of designated waste bins and to actively support sanitation efforts. It also cited ongoing investment by university management, under Vice-Chancellor Prof. Bond Stanley Anyaehie, in expanding waste bins and strengthening sanitation infrastructure to match the growing campus population.
The Directorate described a clean and sustainable campus as “a shared responsibility,” and called for the cooperation and discipline of everyone within the university community.
