UI Medical Students Protest Over Power Cut At UCH

Medical students at the University of Ibadan, who live in University College Hospital (UCH) halls of residence, staged another protest on Thursday, February 13th, 2025, to demand the immediate restoration of electricity to their hostels.

This comes after a power outage caused by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), despite assurances from the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.

The protest follows a tripartite meeting on Monday between the Minister, UCH management, and IBEDC, during which a 24-48 hour deadline for restoring power to the entire hospital was set.

However, while power has been restored to some parts of UCH, the students’ hostels, including Alexander Brown Hall and Ayodele Falase Hall, remain dark.

Students expressed their outrage at the ongoing power outages, pointing out that despite paying tuition, they are being denied a fundamental right as students. They described selective reconnection as unacceptable and a deliberate attempt to ignore their plight.

Victor Olojede, Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde, acknowledged the situation, stating that UCH’s epileptic power supply requires federal government intervention. He urged the Minister of Power and other relevant authorities to resolve the issue as soon as possible to avoid further escalation.

The University of Ibadan Students’ Union (UISU) also condemned the UCH management’s actions, issuing a press statement opposing the partial restoration of power.

The statement, signed by UISU President Aweda Bolaji and General Secretary Ogungbo Bolapo Japheth, threatened mass action beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 13th, 2025, if power was not fully restored to the students’ hostels.

In its response, IBEDC confirmed the reconnection of UCH’s clinical services section within the agreed-upon timeframe, attributing the delay in restoring power to the hostels to pending UCH management directives.

The ongoing standoff highlights the complex interplay between the federal government, the power distribution company, and the university administration, resulting in significant disruptions to medical students’ studies and living conditions.

The students’ threat to continue mass action emphasises the urgency of the situation and the need for an immediate and comprehensive solution.