By Osaro Matthew
Two weeks after students’ ‘Let there be light’ clamour, academic activities in the University of Benin remains shut down.
Recall that the management of University of Benin had shut down academic activities indefinitely, following students refusal to shift grounds on their demand for 24hours electricity supply which was termed unrealistic by the institution’s Senate.
It is two weeks today since academic activities were brought to a halt in the prestigious institution as the shut down commenced July 4,2024.
Let there be light clamour by Uniben students was due to the fact, the school had resulted to power generators and rationing of electricity after being disconnected by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
BEDC had went ahead to disconnect Uniben’s light three days after issuing a disconnection notice to the institution on May 24,2024 over N264m unpaid bill.
While decrying the outrageous 340 percent hike in it’s electricity bill from N80m to N264m due to hike in tariff, the management assured the students that normalcy of power supply will be restored as they were negotiating with BEDC.
In optimism and believe in the management to negotiate with BEDC and restore power to the institution, students remained calm in darkness.
Throughout the month of June, the students endured the rationing of light from 6am – 7am in the morning and 7pm – 10pm daily, as the management resulted to the use of Generators.
Students became impatient, as lack of power supply resulted in shortage of water and night reading being impossible with exams fast approaching.
Uniben students especially those residing in the school hostels, resulted to protest on July 3,2024, blocking the ever busy Benin-Ore highway to clamour for the restoration of power supply.
The protest, which began early in the morning, saw students carrying placards and chanting slogans as they blocked the highway.
A statement signed by institution’s Public Relation Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, was issued the next day, shutting down academic activities indefinitely.
The statement further instructed students to vacate their hostels immediately while stating that non teaching staffs and staff on essential duties are not affected.
As much as students are eager to return to school to continue their academic activities to prevent any alterations in the academic calendar, the demand remain simple and clear, ‘LET THERE BE LIGHT’.
UNIBEN: Two weeks after students’ ‘Let there be light’ clamour, academic activities remains shut down.
