Thousands of University of Ibadan students protested against a recent fee hike and other grievances, blocking campus entrances and halting academic activities. Key issues include power reduction, skyrocketing tuition fees, and the detention of protesting students. The demonstration highlights growing frustration with the administration's policies.
In a massive demonstration against rising educational costs and administrative decisions, thousands of students at the University of Ibadan (UI) gathered early on Monday to protest a recent hike in school fees and other grievances. By 8 a.m., the visibly angry students had blocked all entrances to the institution, effectively preventing both academic and non-academic staff from entering the campus.
The protest, which paralyzed academic activities, saw students moving from one faculty to another to ensure total compliance with their strike. The protesters warned against video recordings, emphasizing their frustration with the school management's perceived unfairness.
A key issue driving the protest was the decision by school authorities to reduce power supply on campus, leading to scheduled blackouts. "You can imagine the authorities saying they will be shedding power henceforth, which means there are days we will be in darkness. How do they expect us to study?" one student remarked.
Additionally, the recent astronomical hike in school fees has left many students and their families struggling. "They have hiked school fees to an unimaginable proportion. Our parents are saying there is no money. Even feeding is difficult and we are still trying to wriggle out of this. They are bringing a hike in tuition fees. We cannot take this any longer. Enough is enough," another student expressed.
The third major grievance involved the victimization of students who participated in previous protests. Several students remain detained by the police, accused of protesting against injustice.
Female students in the sciences have been hit particularly hard by the fee increases. One of them noted, "When I gained admission, I paid around N78,000 but now I am asked to pay over N300,000; some are paying N200,000."
The protest also disrupted the early take-off of a scheduled program at the Department of Economics. Staff members who managed to access the campus had to flee for safety as the gates were shut.
As the protest continues, students are calling for immediate action from the university administration to address their concerns and ensure justice for all affected.
