BENIN – The Authorities of the University of Benin have shut down indefinitely, the academic activities of the institution, ordering students to vacate hostels with immediate effect.

The closure of the University was occasioned following the refusal of students to abate their protest which they started on Wednesday.

Students of the University on Wednesday took over the Benin-Lagos expressway to kick against the continued power outage and lack of water at the tertiary institution.

Announcing the indefinite closure of the School in a statement, the University’s spokesperson, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire stated that following the refusal of the students of the University 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.

According to her, “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 shut down” she declared.

“Students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Wednesday took over the Benin-Lagos expressway to kick against the continued power outage and lack of water at the tertiary institution.

The management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) recently cut off power supply to the school following the controversial hike in the monthly bill from N80 million to N250 million, an action which the spokesperson, Mrs. Evelyn Gbiwen insisted was in line with the recent nod by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission to distribution companies to jerk up their tariffs.

The angry students, who defied the early morning rain, chanted solidarity songs, demanding the immediate resolution of the problem so that power can be restored to their hostels and water pumped.

Besides, they also kicked against the recent hike of transport fare from Ugbowo Campus to downtown Ring Road and New Benin by drivers.

There was a vehicular hold up along the ever busy expressway due to the protest by the students, who passionately pleaded with the authorities to immediately address their grievances.

Some of the protesters lamented the plight of the students, adding that they now trek long distances outside the campus to fetch water and charge their mobile phones and rechargeable lanterns.

They feared that there could be an outbreak of diseases in the halls of residence as the toilets are in a terrible mess, noting that many students now stay for days without taking their baths just as others now resort to rain water.

According to them, “The authorities should find a solution to our plight. We’re suffering. There is no light in the hostel. The taps have ceased flowing because there is no electricity to power the boreholes.

“Students now spend precious time going to neighbouring communities in search of water and places to charge their mobile phones and rechargeable lanterns. The authorities should please resolve the problem.”