Nigeria Traffic Disrupted as UNIBEN Students Protest Prolonged Power Outage

UNIBEN students protest over a three-week power outage, blocking the Lagos-Benin Expressway and causing major traffic disruptions. The ongoing demonstration highlights severe infrastructural challenges and demands urgent restoration of electricity to alleviate the hardships faced by students.

Students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) staged a protest on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, over a prolonged power outage that has lasted more than three weeks. Frustrated by the persistent lack of electricity and the resulting hardships, the students took to the streets, blocking the outbound route of the Lagos-Benin Expressway.

The protest began in the early hours of the morning, with students gathering at the main gate of the university. The demonstration quickly escalated, leading to the complete shutdown of the main gate and significant disruption of traffic. All vehicles were forced to use only the inbound route of the expressway, causing a major traffic bottleneck.

Protesters expressed their frustration and exhaustion due to the ongoing power outage. Speaking to reporters from Channels Television off-camera before being chased away by the demonstrators, several students shared their grievances. They highlighted the unbearable stress caused by the lack of electricity, which has severely impacted their studies and daily lives.

The power outage has left students without necessities such as lighting, internet access, and proper ventilation in their hostels. This has made it extremely difficult for them to prepare for exams and complete assignments, adding to their stress and anxiety. The situation has also affected the overall functioning of the university, disrupting administrative and academic activities.

In their chants and placards, the students demanded immediate restoration of power and called on the university administration and relevant authorities to address the issue urgently. The protest underscores the broader infrastructural challenges faced by many educational institutions in Nigeria, where power outages are a common occurrence.

As the demonstration continues, the main gate of UNIBEN remains closed, and students are determined to sustain their protest until their demands are met. The situation remains tense, with traffic still heavily disrupted on the Lagos-Benin Expressway.