College of Medicine students at the University College Hospital conducted a peaceful protest on Wednesday in response to the hospital’s ongoing blackout.
The demonstration, which was sponsored by the University of Ibadan Students Union, began at 7:00 a.m.
The SU president, Bolaji Aweda, stated that the protest became necessary after a 7-day ultimatum was issued to the management of both UI and UCH.
Aweda, who claimed a power play among the parties, also stated that the power outage had lasted 82 days.
According to him, the situation has harmed students’ living circumstances and academic performance, preventing them from functioning properly.
Aweda stated, “Our demand is for the immediate restoration of power to UCH and other hospitals that are currently experiencing a similar situation.”
“We want the Ministry of Power to implement the 50% energy pricing decrease announced in August 2024, as well as to overhaul Nigeria’s health system.
“If UCH, the foremost healthcare hospital in Nigeria, is this bad, one can imagine what other health institutions in the country will look like.”
Tobiloba Samuel, the immediate past SU president, also stated that they had tried to speak with the administration of UCH and UI but had no results.
He stated that if the essential parties do not act following the peaceful demonstration, the union would give an ultimatum.
According to NAN, no UCH management official addressed the demonstrators, but security officers were there to keep the peace.
When contacted, the Chairman of UCH Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), Mr Oladayo Olabampe, stated that the union was unaware of the protest.
“The organizers have no identification. I have nothing against it, but no union at UCH is participating, to the best of my knowledge,” Olabampe remarked.
According to NAN, the students arrived at UI wearing black shirts.
