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Tuesday 24 April 2012

UI STUDENTS PROTEST OVER WATER SCARCITY, BLACKOUT


Hundreds of students of the University of Ibadan threw caution into the wind today as they went on rampage over non availability of water and electricity in the halls of residence , paralyzing academic and commercial activities in some parts of the city .
 
The demonstration which began on the campus, led hundreds of the aggrieved students marching on the streets of the city of Ibadan, and on major roads with a view to registering their grievances against the authorities of the institution.
 
But the protest was not without loses to traders and commercial drivers .  
Commercial activities within the campus, the Agbowo Shopping Complex and along the Mokola-Ojoo road were paralyzed .

Traffic along the road was congested as motorists have to look for alternative road, as  many of the routes were rendered impassable .

It was  learnt that the protest was ignited by residents of the Independence and Nnamidi Azikiwe Hall who were more hit with the scarcity of water and electricity.

The protest, began on Sunday night when the situation became  unbearable for the students who have been in the darkness for almost three days.

Though the protest was not violent, visitors and staff were forced to trek to their various destinations as the intra-campus transport was put on hold.

Some of the placards carried by the protesting students read: "where is our right, University of Ibadan is the first but the worst". "our Vice chancellor is a thief, we are tired of darkness and drought" and "no light, no water, no life, we are fed up."

The Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University (SANU), Comrade Jonathan Omolona, told newsmen  that the protest started building up since Sunday night and efforts to pacify  the students not to embark on the strike failed.

They have complained of scarcity of water and electricity in their various hostels.

According to him, extending it to the public road makes it nuisance. "We have to pacify them to leave the road and return to the campus “.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sango Police Division and the Area Commander, Agodi, Aliyu Garuba led policemen to ensure that the protesting students leave the road and return to the campus to allow for free traffic flow.

Speaking on the incident, the institution’s Director, Public Communication, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, disclosed that the management had put in place measures aimed at improving water and electricity to halls of residence.

He said that a search team had been put in place to ensure  that water and electricity were regularly supplied to the halls .

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