A protest by students over power and water cuts disrupted academic and commercial activities at the University of Benin, particularly around the Ugbowo campus on Wednesday.
The demonstration, sparked by prolonged outages, led to a significant halt in the daily operations of the university.
Students gathered in large numbers to express their dissatisfaction with the ongoing issues, citing the impact on their studies and daily lives. The students’ grievance is also connected to the recent increase in intra-campus shuttle fares.
Chanting slogans and holding placards, the protesters blocked key access points to the campus, effectively shutting down movement in and out of the institution.
“We have been without power and water for several days,” said one of the protesters.
“It is impossible to study or even live comfortably under these conditions. We need the university administration to address these issues immediately.”
The protest caused major disruptions, with lectures and other academic activities being cancelled. Commercial activities in the vicinity of the campus were also affected, as shop owners and business operators closed their establishments due to the possibility of unrest.
Despite the significant impact of the protest, the university administration has yet to release an official statement addressing the situation.
Students are calling for immediate action and clear communication from the university management regarding the resolution of the power and water supply issues.
A student leader, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, “We are demanding that the university management provide a timeline for restoring power and water. Our patience has run out, and we need concrete solutions.”
Security personnel were seen monitoring the situation to ensure it remained peaceful, but there have been no reports of violence or arrests at press time.
The disruption comes at a critical time in the academic calendar, with many students preparing for exams and project submissions. The uncertainty surrounding the power and water supply has added to the stress and frustration among the student body.
As of now, it remains unclear how long the protest will continue and what steps the university administration will take to address the grievances of the students.
The campus community and stakeholders are eagerly awaiting a response from the university authorities to restore normalcy and resume academic activities.
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