Breaking News

UNIBEN shut over students’ protest

The management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Edo State has shut down academic activities in the institution indefinitely.

The UNIBEN spokesperson, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, announced this in a statement on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

Ehanire attributed the closure of the university to the refusal of the students to shift grounds on their demands.

The students had, on Wednesday, July 3, blocked the ever-busy Benin-Ore expressway to protest weeks of power outage on campus.

The students, who had two weeks until their first semester examination, said the situation was severely affecting their preparation.

The students also called for a downward review of transport fares by the UNIBEN shuttle service, which was increased with effect from July 1.

UNIBEN students block Benin-Ore expressway over power outage

The university was thrown into a blackout by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) following the inability to reach an agreement over contentious electricity billings.

The monthly bill was said to have jumped from about N80 million to between N200 and N280 million, forcing the university to resort to power generators as well as rationalisation of power on the two campuses and hostels.

The protesting students, amidst heavy rainfall on Wednesday, were hell-bent on continuing the rampage unless their demands were met.

However, Ehanire described the students’ demand for a 24-hour supply of electricity as unrealistic.

He noted: “Following the insistence of students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) to shift grounds on their demands for twenty-four hours 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 closure.”

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Christmas: Let’s be instruments of peace, Uba Sani urges Christians

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has felicitated Christians in the state, urging them and other…

8 hours ago

Zenith Bank, Int’l Breweries, NNPC, Others Shine at 2024 SERAS Awards

It was a night of glitz, glamour and celebration at the 18th edition of the…

20 hours ago

Tinubu felicitates Christians on Christmas, says Nigeria on path of restoration

President Bola Tinubu has felicitated Christians on Christmas celebration in the country, saying the nation…

20 hours ago

Uba Sani inaugurates 12 road projects on Xmas Eve

Governor Uba Sani has inaugurated 12 asphaltic roads  within Kaduna metropolis on Tuesday, 10 months…

21 hours ago

Court sends oil magnate to prison for diverting $26m refinery fund

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded the Founder and Chairman of Platform…

21 hours ago

Minister’s aide to MURIC: Wike not running FCTA based on religion

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Federal Capital…

22 hours ago

This website uses cookies.