The management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), has shut down all academic activities indefinitely.
Following this closure is an immediate order to students to vacate their hostels.
Trouble began on Wednesday, after students of the institution protested over the rationing of electricity, among other grievances.
The angry students blocked the Benin-Ore highway.
This led to gridlock and untold hardship to commuters.
The Demand
Some of the students on Wednesday said they would not leave the highway until their demands were met.
However, in a statement by the institution’s Public Relations officer, Benedicta Ehanire, on Thursday, the management said the Senate of the institution held a meeting on Wednesday to meet with the students to see how the issue could be resolved.
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Ehanire said the students’ unrealistic demands necessitated management action.
The statement read: “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.
UNIBEN In Darkness
“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 Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) PLC recently disconnected the institution.
This was as a result of the bill of over 250 million naira slammed on the institution by the electricity company.
The institution was formerly paying 80 million naira.
Now, they are not able to afford the new bill, which caused a blackout in the school and brought hardship to the students.
