UNIBEN Management Shuts Down University Over Student Protests

The management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has indefinitely halted academic activities and ordered students to vacate their hostels immediately. This decision came following a statement from the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, on Thursday.

The students staged protests on Wednesday over the rationing of electricity and other grievances, blocking the Benin-Ore highway and causing significant gridlock and inconvenience to commuters. Some students declared they would not leave the highway until their demands were met.

In response, the university’s Senate held a meeting on Wednesday to negotiate with the students. However, due to the students’ steadfast demands for a 24-hour electricity supply and other concessions deemed unrealistic by the Senate, the management decided to shut down the school.

Ehanire stated, “Following the refusal of students of the University of Benin to shift grounds on their demands for 24-hour supply of electricity and more, considered unrealistic by the university’s Senate, the university has shut down academic activities indefinitely. Students are to vacate the hostels immediately while all the relevant units of the university are to take note and comply. However, non-teaching staff and staff on essential duties are not affected by the shutdown.”

The protests stem from the recent disconnection of the institution by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) PLC over an outstanding bill exceeding N250 million. Previously, the institution paid N80 million, but the new bill has led to a blackout and significant hardship for the students.