“Students of the University of Benin have expressed their discontent by blocking the Benin-Ore highway to protest power cuts that are disrupting their studies. Faced with weeks of power outages on campus, the students have decided to take action, pointing out the disastrous consequences of this situation on their preparation for the upcoming exams.
The discontent escalated when the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) decided to suspend power supply to the university due to persistent disagreements over excessive billing. The decision threw the institution into darkness, forcing officials to resort to power generators and rationalize energy on the two campuses and student residences.
The students, determined to make their voices heard despite unfavorable weather conditions, have expressed their firm intention to remain mobilized until their demands are addressed. Among their demands, the downward revision of the transport fares offered by the UNIBEN shuttle service, recently increased as of July 1, was also raised.
Unfortunately, the dispute between the students and the university has been bogged down due to the refusal of the former to compromise on their demands. This impasse has finally led to the drastic decision of the university to suspend its academic activities indefinitely. In an official statement, the spokesperson of the institution described as “unrealistic” the students’ demands for uninterrupted electricity supply 24 hours a day.
Thus, the students have been ordered to vacate the university residences without delay, while the various entities of the university must comply with this measure. This situation underlines the need for constructive dialogue and the search for viable solutions to prevent future disruptions in the functioning of the institution and ensure an environment conducive to learning for all students.”
This summary, written in a more detailed and reasoned manner, provides a comprehensive overview of the situation of students at the University of Benin and highlights the issues underlying this crisis.