Students from the University of Ibadan (UI) staged a peaceful protest in response to an 82-day power outage at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan. The demonstration, led by Students’ Union President Bolaji Aweda, began early in the morning and aimed to express dissatisfaction with the prolonged lack of electricity at UCH, the primary teaching hospital for UI medical students.
The power outage at UCH has persisted since November 2024 due to outstanding debts owed to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). IBEDC disconnected the hospital’s power supply in March 2024 over unpaid electricity bills, and a similar disconnection occurred in November 2023 for the same reason. As of the time of the protest, power had not been restored, significantly impacting both patients and medical students who rely on the facility for training.
During the protest, Aweda highlighted the adverse effects of the power outage on students’ living conditions and academic performance, stating, “For 82 days, there has been no light at UCH, and this is due to the inability of UCH to pay its electricity bill to IBEDC.” He called for the immediate restoration of power to UCH and other hospitals facing similar issues, emphasizing the need for reforms in Nigeria’s health sector.
The students urged the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to intervene promptly to resolve the power outage and prevent further disruptions to healthcare services and medical education at UCH. The protest underscores the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure, particularly regarding consistent power supply and financial management. citeturn0search3