The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has indefinitely halted academic activities and ordered students to vacate their hostels immediately following protests over electricity rationing and other grievances. This decision was announced on Thursday by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire.
The students began their protests on Wednesday, blocking the Benin-Ore highway and causing significant gridlock and inconvenience to commuters. Despite their demands and threats to remain on the highway until their grievances were addressed, the university management convened a Senate meeting on Wednesday to discuss potential resolutions.
Ehanire’s statement explained that the students’ demands, particularly for a 24-hour electricity supply, were deemed unrealistic by the university’s Senate, leading to the decision to shut down the university.
“Following the refusal of students of the University of Benin to shift grounds on their demands for 24-hour supply of electricity and more, considered unrealistic by the university’s Senate, the university has shut down academic activities indefinitely,” Ehanire stated. “Students are to vacate the hostels immediately while all the relevant units of the university are to take note and comply. However, non-teaching staff and staff on essential duties are not affected by the shutdown.”
The protest was exacerbated by a recent disconnection by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) due to an outstanding bill exceeding N250 million. The university had previously managed an N80 million bill but has struggled to meet the new financial demands, resulting in a blackout and subsequent hardship for the students.
The university’s decision to close indefinitely underscores the ongoing challenges and tensions between the students and the institution’s administration regarding basic amenities and financial constraints.
