From Moshood Karim
Benin City— Students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) took to the streets on Wednesday, causing significant disruption by blocking the busy Benin-Ore Highway.
The protest was in response to a prolonged power outage on their campus, which has lasted for several weeks.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the power cut has severely impacted the students’ ability to prepare for their upcoming first semester examinations, which are just two weeks away. This dire situation prompted the students to take drastic measures to voice their grievances.
The root cause of the power outage is a standoff between the university and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over a contentious electricity bill. The failure of both parties to reach an agreement has left the campus in darkness, compounding the students’ frustration.
One student, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed the collective sentiment of the protesters: “We cannot study or live comfortably without power. The exams are approaching, and we are at a disadvantage. This protest is our last resort to draw attention to our plight.” He told Uptown Press.
The protest caused significant traffic disruptions, as the Benin-Ore Highway is a major thoroughfare. Motorists were stranded for hours as the students demanded immediate action from both the university administration and BEDC.
In response to the protest, a representative from the university stated that negotiations with BEDC were ongoing and urged the students to remain calm. The representative assured that efforts were being made to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
As the situation develops, students remain adamant that their concerns be addressed. They have vowed to continue their demonstrations until power is restored, emphasizing the critical need for electricity in their academic and daily lives.
Local authorities have been deployed to monitor the protest and ensure it remains peaceful.
The university administration and BEDC have yet to release a joint statement regarding the resolution of the electricity dispute.
