Students of the University of Benin recently launched a series of demonstrations to protest power outages on campus, blocking the busy Benin-Ore road. These protests come just weeks before their end-of-semester exams, which has fueled their frustration with the situation.
The university issued a statement announcing the temporary closure of academic activities due to the students’ refusal to give in on their demands. The latter demand 24-hour electricity supply, a demand described as unrealistic by the University Senate.
The local electricity company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), has cut off power supply to the university due to disagreement over ever-increasing electricity bills. These monthly bills jumped from almost N80 million to between N200 million and N280 million, forcing the university to resort to power generators and streamline electricity distribution on campus and in university residences.
Despite the heavy rain, the students maintained their protest, saying they would continue their mobilization until their demands were met. Yet the university management deemed students’ demand for uninterrupted electricity supply to be out of reach.
The temporary closure of academic activities has been decided, forcing students to leave university residences immediately. This decision highlights the inflexibility of positions and the current impasse between stakeholders.
This situation raises important questions about the quality of public services in Nigeria and highlights the need for effective management of energy resources to ensure a conducive learning environment for students. While awaiting a lasting resolution to this dispute, it is crucial that all stakeholders engage in open and constructive dialogue to avoid further disruption to students’ studies and damage to the university’s reputation.
This crisis demonstrates the importance of close cooperation between all actors involved in the provision of essential services, in order to ensure the proper functioning of educational institutions and meet the basic needs of students.