The University of Benin (UNIBEN) authorities shut down academic activities indefinitely on Thursday.
In a statement, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, explained that the decision was due to the students’ refusal to compromise on their demands.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), students protested on Wednesday by blocking the busy Benin-Ore Highway in response to weeks of power outages on campus.
With two weeks remaining until their first semester exams, the students argued that the power issues were significantly hindering their preparation. They also demanded a reduction in the increased transport fares of the UNIBEN shuttle service, which took effect from July 1.
NAN reported that the power outages resulted from a dispute with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over electricity billing, which had surged from about N80 million to between N200 million and N280 million. This forced the university to use power generators and ration electricity across the two campuses and hostels.
Despite heavy rainfall, a NAN correspondent observed that the protesting students were determined to continue their demonstration until their demands were met.
However, in the notice of closure shared with NAN, Ehanire described the students’ demand for 1,125 hours of electricity as unrealistic.
“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.
“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,” said the university’s spokesperson.
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