Hundreds of students from the University of Ibadan (UI) staged a peaceful protest in Ibadan on Wednesday, decrying an 82-day power outage at the University College Hospital (UCH), which serves as the teaching hospital for medical students.
The blackout, reportedly caused by unpaid debts to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), has severely impacted UCH operations. IBEDC disconnected power to the hospital in March 2024 due to accumulated electricity bills. A similar disconnection occurred in November 2023 for the same reason.
The protest, led by the University’s Students’ Union (SU) President, Bolaji Aweda, highlighted the adverse effects of the prolonged power outage on students and medical personnel.
Aweda addressed reporters during the protest, stating:
- “For 82 days, there has been no light at UCH due to its inability to pay its electricity bill. IBEDC has made it clear that power will only be restored once the debts are cleared. This situation directly affects our students, and we are here to make our voices heard.”
Students shared their struggles, including the challenges faced by those residing in Alexander Brown Hall, a residence for medical students. Without power at UCH, they had to travel to other halls on the main campus just to charge their gadgets.
This is not the first time UCH has experienced prolonged blackouts. In 2024, a similar outage forced doctors to perform surgeries using flashlights, raising concerns about the hospital’s operational stability.
The protest underscores growing frustration over the unresolved power crisis, with students calling for immediate action to address the issue and ensure UCH’s functionality as a critical medical institution.
https://x.com/Kennie_Jiga/status/1881988067109875870
