March 19, 2004

Nigeria Drops Plan to Raise Dorm Fees by 10,000%

By WACHIRA KIGOTHO

The Nigerian government has backed down from a plan to increase the cost of housing at public universities by more than 10,000 percent.

The government's decision averted a nationwide boycott of classes by students. Nigeria's president, Olusegun Obasanjo, suspended the intended increase -- from 90 naira (about 66 cents) to 10,000 naira ($74) -- after meeting with the leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students.

The government appointed a 13-member

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