Some of the protesting students on the expressway, who vowed to continue protesting.
Students: No electricity and water coupled with high cost of feeding
By Peter Smith
The students of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ugbowo campus, on Wednesday July 3, 2024, blocked the Benin Expressway in protest of the poor condition of their university environment.
The students, who blocked the road as early as 7am, lamented the high cost of feeding, the continued blackout and lack of water in the university.
They also expressed their discontent over a recent hike in intra-campus shuttle bus fares.
The university has been plunged into darkness due to unresolved billing disputes with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.
They said that while they nolonger get light from the electricity company, their own generator had broken down for the past six months.
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They appealed to the government to come to their aid as the cost of living and studing in the university had become unbearable.
While some were seen carrying placards; singing protest songs, others converted the expressway to a football pitch, as they defied the heavy rain and the military presence.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, confirmed the protest, stressing that the Senate was ongoing to address the issue.
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