By O.V.Collins
Contrary to expectations, the students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) will not be engaging in any protest on Monday over the ongoing power crisis affecting the institution, according to Collins Obhiozele, the Electoral Secretary of the UNIBEN Students’ Union Government (SUG). In a voice chat with Benin iTV Radio, Obhiozene stated that the university is not involved in any protest for now, and any demonstrations anywhere are not linked to UNIBEN students.
Whilst acknowledging the existence of issues surrounding the power crisis, Obhiozele emphasised that they are not the fault of the school management. He assured that the necessary solutions are being worked on, and the issues will be resolved soon.
The Electoral Secretary’s statement comes amid concerns over the power crisis, which has left the university without adequate power supply for over a week due to a dispute with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over the company’s reported addition of an extra N200 million to the university’s usual approximate N80 million monthly payment.
According to ACJ UNIBEN reports, the university management has been exploring alternative solutions, including solar energy and providing power using diesel generators. The situation remains fluid as students seek a swift resolution to the power crisis affecting their academic activities.