UI Students Protest 82-Day Blackout at UCH, Demand Immediate Action
Students of the University of Ibadan (UI) staged a peaceful protest against the 82-day power outage at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Oyo State. The prolonged blackout, attributed to debts owed to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), has severely disrupted academic activities for medical students trained at the teaching hospital.
Speaking during the protest, the President of the UI Student Union Government, Comrade Bolaji Aweda, described the situation as unacceptable, stating that the persistent power outage has crippled learning and affected students’ well-being.
“The blackout has lingered for over 82 days now, and for over two months, there has been no light at the University College Hospital, which has affected the livelihood of our students,” he said. “The lack of electricity is why we are out on the street today.”
Aweda added that the crisis stems from a “power play” between the UCH management and IBEDC, urging immediate intervention to restore electricity. He further called for the implementation of a 50% electricity tariff discount announced by the Federal Ministry of Power in 2024 and emphasized the need to revamp the healthcare sector.
Student Leader Sunday Tobilola noted that the protest was the first step in a series of engagements with stakeholders. He warned that failure to address the power challenges would prompt further action.
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The protesters marched from UCH to the Oyo State Government Secretariat, where they were received by Sunday Odukoya, the Executive Assistant on Security to Governor Seyi Makinde. Odukoya assured the students that the state government would collaborate with the Federal Government to resolve the crisis.
The power outage at UCH, ongoing for over a year, highlights systemic challenges in Nigeria’s energy and healthcare sectors, sparking widespread frustration among students and staff alike.
