Due to student protests, UNIBEN suspends its academic operations indefinitely

• The University of Benin has suspended academic operations indefinitely because students are uncompromising in their demands.
• In the protests, which began on July 3, students blocked the Benin-Ore Highway to protest ongoing power outages.
• The university cited unrealistic demands from students as the reason for the closure, including continuous power supply for 1,125 hours.

Benin, Edo State—The University of Benin has suspended academic operations indefinitely, citing students’ refusal to compromise on their demands.

In a statement by the university’s public relations officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, the decision was attributed to ongoing student protests.

As reported by Daily NigerianThe protests began on Wednesday, July 3, when students blocked the busy Benin-Ore Highway to express their frustration over weeks of power outages on campus.

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During the protest, students claimed that the ongoing power outage had affected their exam preparations.

Two weeks before their first semester exams, students also demanded a reduction in the recently increased fare for the UNIBEN shuttle service starting Monday, July 1.

Reason for ongoing power outage

Vanguard reported that the power outages were due to a dispute with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over a significant increase in electricity bills.

The bills rose from around 80 million naira to 200 to 280 million naira per month.

This resulted in the university relying on generators and rationing electricity on its campuses and in dormitories.

Despite heavy rains, protesting students vowed to continue until their demands were met.

However, in the closure notice, Dr. Ehanire stated that the student’s demand for continuous power supply for 1,125 hours was unrealistic.

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She said:

“Due to the students’ intransigent demands for continuous 24/7 power supply, which the University Senate deemed unrealistic, the University of Benin has suspended academic operations indefinitely.

“Students are required to leave the dormitories immediately and all university units involved are required to comply with this instruction.”

“However, non-teaching staff and those with essential tasks are exempt from the closure.”

In a video posted on social network X by @eonsintelligenc

Police report how suspect killed a Uniben graduate and eight other people

In another report, Edo State Police Commissioner Funsho Adegboye said the suspected killer of Glory Adekolure, a graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), had confessed to killing at least eight other young women.

Legit.ng reported that Adekolure’s body was found under a tree on a street in Iyowa community of Benin City, near her house, after she went to school to complete her final school leaving examination on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

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The deceased was a 22-year-old student in her final year at the Faculty of Chemistry.

Source: Legit.ng