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UNIBEN Warns Of Possible Shutdown Amid Student Protests
UNIBEN students protested over electricity and water shortages, leading the Senate to warn of a possible shutdown if dialogue fails.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Senate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has labelled the ongoing student protest as regrettable and cautioned that the institution may be closed if dialogue attempts with the students are unsuccessful.
Earlier reports indicated that students from the Ugbowo campus protested on the busy Ugbowo-Lagos Expressway on Wednesday due to ongoing electricity and water shortages in their hostels.
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The demonstration aimed to pressure university management into restoring reliable electricity and water supplies. Additionally, students expressed discontent over a recent hike in intra-campus shuttle bus fares. The university has faced power outages due to unresolved billing disputes with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.
The Senate expressed concerns about the closure of the federal highway, which caused inconvenience for vehicle owners, travellers, and other road users. The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, conveyed the Senate’s decision in a statement on Wednesday evening.
The statement read: “The Senate of the University resolved that if dialogue with the students fails and the protest persists, it will have no other option but to shut down the institution.” The Senate expressed its disappointment over the students’ actions and emphasized its concern about the recurring issue of students obstructing the federal highway, leading to inconvenience for travellers and other road users.
UNIBEN Student Protests
It was mentioned that certain individuals within the Senate had been assigned to engage in further discussions with the students regarding their impractical request for a round-the-clock electricity supply, a service they had previously enjoyed before the university’s disconnection by BEDC due to a contentious monthly bill exceeding N250 million imposed on the institution by the electricity provider.
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The Senate also described the two other complaints by the students about high costs of food and transportation as out of the university’s control.
The Senate, however, praised the institution’s administration for the various measures implemented to guarantee the students’ well-being despite the challenging circumstances in the country.
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