UNIBEN Protests: Students Block Benin-Ore Highway in Response to Power Outage

Students from the University of Benin (UNIBEN) went to the streets on Wednesday. They blocked the busy Benin-Ore Highway. They were angry because there has been no power on their campus for many weeks.

The long power cut has made it hard for them to get ready for their first semester exams. The exams are just two weeks away, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

The power cut started because the university and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) could not agree on an electricity bill.

The problem began when BEDC increased the school’s monthly electricity bill by more than 200%. The bill went from about N80 million to between N200 million and N280 million. This made the university use power generators and share electricity in turns across its two campuses and hostels.

What UNIBEN students are saying

“We have had only one hour of electricity every day since this started. We are tired of studying in the dark,” said John Afolabi, one of the protesting students. “We need electricity to read and prepare for our exams. The university management needs to take responsibility and fix this issue.”

The protest started early in the morning. Students carried signs and chanted slogans, blocking the highway. “We will not leave until something is done. We can’t afford to fail our exams because of the university’s negligence,” said Sarah Osaigbovo, a 300-level student of the Ugbowo campus.

Reports said the protest caused major traffic problems, leaving many people stuck and unable to get to where they were going.

A commuter, who did not want to give his name, said, “I’m supposed to be at work right now, but I’ve been stuck here for hours. I understand why the students are protesting, but they need to find a better way to do it.”

Even with the rain, the students did not stop. Their protest showed how frustrated and desperate they are, trying to balance their studies with the lack of power.

Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, the Public Relations Officer of the university, said that the university Senate was having a meeting to solve the problem. “The management knows about the students’ complaints and is working hard to fix the power outage,” she said.

This protest by UNIBEN students shows how important it is to have reliable services like electricity in schools.

When there is no power, it not only stops academic work but also shows bigger problems with how things are run and services are given. As the university and BEDC try to fix the problem, they must make sure students can continue their studies without more problems. The results of the Senate meeting will be very important for deciding the next steps and fixing things at the university.

What you should know

Nigerian universities have been facing more financial problems because of higher electricity prices. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, recently showed concern about the university’s high monthly electricity bill. The bill has gone from N70 million to a big N230 million.

The University of Jos is also dealing with a 300% increase in its monthly electricity bill, now at N80 million. They are threatened with disconnection because of unpaid bills. The Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) Plc has warned they might cut off the power, adding to the university’s problems. To handle this, the university increased student charges, but it has not been enough.

Earlier, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved a rise in electricity rates for customers in Band A. According to NERC Vice Chairman Musliu Oseni, customers will pay N225 per kilowatt hour, up from N66.

However, NERC reduced the exchange rate for calculating the current electricity tariff for Band A customers by 16.03%, from N1,463.3/$ to N1,277.8, effective from May to December 2024.