UI releases electricity distribution updates, students revolt in response

 

Updates on power supply across campus shook the student community in the University of Ibadan on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, as the fairly inconsistent power supply in the past few weeks caused some agitation among the students. The inciting announcement was an internal memorandum within the Works and Maintenance Department, University of Ibadan, displaying a ‘timetable’ of sorts for power distribution within the University campus.

The memo, signed by the Director of Works, stated a 10-hour daily electricity supply on campus, with daytime allocations from 8:00 am to 02:00 pm and night-time supply from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am. While students might have accepted the consistency of epileptic power supply during exam periods, they have associated the semester weeks with relatively more constant power supply; hence, the memo was met with significant shock.

The University management dropped a follow-up release to the memo, stating that the developments were a result of energy crisis that affected the distribution of power from the national grid to the institution. The release also stated that the University Power Station will augment power supply between 10:00 am and 02: 00 pm during the day, and between 10:00 pm and 06:00 am at night.

Students went out in a peaceful protest on Tuesday night, registering their displeasure with the University’s recent developments, including the school fees hike.

The Students Union executives resolved to continue the mass action on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, cancelling all lectures and transportation within the University and demanding the School authority withdraws the initial memo and restore constant power supply. The SU also demanded a reversal of the school fees, rather than a reduction, requiring a refund for students who have paid, while condemning the ongoing victimization that Aduwo Ayodele, Olamide Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus are receiving on account of their peaceful protest on May 13, 2024.

Written by Segun Itakorode.