The management of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, on Thursday closed down the institution following Wednesday’s protest by the students over lack of power supply.
NewsNow reports that students at the main campus of the institution at Ugbowo staged a peaceful protest demanding the restoration of electricity at the campus.
A statement by Benedicta Ehanire, the Public Relations Officer of the university said the closure of the school became necessary, following the refusal of the students to shift grounds on their demands for 24 hours electricity supply.
Ehanire, who said the Senate of the university considered the students’ demands as unrealistic, ordered the students to vacate the hostels with immediate effect.
She urged all the relevant units of the university to take note and comply with the senate directives.
She, however, added that non-teaching staff and staff on essential duties were not affected by the shut down.
According to Ehanire, “following the refusal of students of the University of Benin to shift grounds on their demands for 24 hours supply of electricity and more, considered unrealistic by the University’s Senate, the University has shut down academic activities indefinitely.
“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.”
NewsNow also reported that the Senate of the University of Benin had on Wednesday, following the students’ protest, held an emergency meeting.
At the meeting, the senate, in its resolutions, described the students’ action as unfortunate, particularly the blockade of the federal highway, thereby causing hardship to travellers.