Rita Odafe
The University of Benin (UNIBEN) management decided to close down academic operations at the institution until further notice on July 4 amidst ongoing student protests. The university attributed this action to the students’ refusal to compromise on their demands. The students had been demonstrating their discontent by blocking the Benin-Ore Highway due to prolonged power outages on campus.
The students, only two weeks away from their first-semester exams, expressed their concerns about how the lack of electricity was negatively impacting their study preparations. They also requested a reduction in transportation fees for the UNIBEN shuttle service, which had been increased from July 1. The university experienced a power outage caused by unresolved issues with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), leading to significant fluctuations in the electricity bills.
Due to the monthly bill spiking from about N80 million to between N200 and N280 million, the university had to resort to power generators and manage the distribution of power across both campuses and hostels. Despite heavy rainfall, the protesting students stood firm on continuing their demonstration until their demands were met.
In response to the students’ demand for a 1,125-hour electricity supply, which the university considered impractical, the decision was made to shut down academic activities indefinitely. The university instructed students to evacuate the hostels promptly, while ensuring that essential non-teaching staff and personnel on crucial duties were unaffected by the closure.
