Students of the University of Ibadan College of Medicine staged a protest at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Monday, decrying the prolonged power outage that has left the hospital in darkness for over 100 days.
The protest coincided with the visit of the Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, and the management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to the hospital.
The students carried placards with inscriptions such as “We are tired of 100 days of darkness; Save UCH”, demanding immediate restoration of electricity, which they said had severely disrupted their academic and clinical activities.
Students’ Demands
The Student Union President, Bolaji Aweda, outlined their key demands, which include:
Immediate reconnection of UCH to the national grid.
Implementation of the 50 % electricity waiver promised by the government for tertiary healthcare facilities.
Urgent reforms in the health sector to prevent future occurrences.
Minister’s Assurance
Responding to the protest, Chief Bayo Adelabu assured the students and UCH management that the government was committed to resolving the power crisis. He promised a permanent solution and stated that efforts were already underway to reconnect the hospital to the IBEDC power supply.
Background of the Power Outage
The lingering power outage at UCH stems from IBEDC’s decision to disconnect the hospital from the national grid on October 27, 2024, due to accumulated debts. The situation has significantly affected medical services, research activities, and the overall functionality of Nigeria’s premier teaching hospital.
As the protest underscores the urgency of the matter, all eyes are now on the government and IBEDC to deliver on their promises and bring UCH out of the darkness.
