BENIN CITY, Nigeria — The University of Benin, UNIBEN, announced an indefinite shutdown of academic activities on Thursday, July 4, 2024, following a student protest over prolonged power outages and increased transport fares.
In a statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, the closure was attributed to the students’ refusal to back down from their demands.
“Following the insistence of students of the University of Benin to shift grounds on their demands for twenty-four hours supply of electricity and more, considered unrealistic by the university’s Senate, the university has shut down academic activities indefinitely,” Ehanire stated.
The protest, which began on Wednesday, saw students block the Benin-Ore Highway, demanding a resolution to the weeks-long power outage that has disrupted their studies. With just two weeks left until their first semester examinations, the students expressed frustration over the situation’s impact on their preparation.
Adding to their grievances, the students called for a reduction in the transport fares of the UNIBEN shuttle service, which had been increased starting July 1.
The university has been in a standoff with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, over escalating electricity bills, which surged from approximately N80 million to between N200 and N280 million.
The inability to reach an agreement forced the university to rely on power generators and ration electricity across its campuses and hostels.
During the protest, which persisted despite heavy rainfall, the students remained adamant about continuing their demonstration until their demands were met.
Dr. Ehanire emphasised the impracticality of the students’ demand for 24-hour electricity supply. “Students are to vacate the hostels immediately, while all the relevant units of the university are to take note and comply,” she added.
Non-teaching staff and essential workers, however, are exempt from the shutdown.
As the situation unfolds, the university community waits in uncertainty, hoping for a resolution that will allow academic activities to resume without further disruption.
