Students’ Group Demands Action as Nigeria’s Oldest Teaching Hospital Suffers 100-Day Blackout

The Concerned Students’ Movement at the University of Ibadan has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for failing to address the prolonged power outage at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan.

In a statement titled “100 Days of Darkness,” the group’s Coordinator, Aduwo Ayodele, lambasted the government’s negligence, which has resulted in the premier teaching hospital being left without electricity for over three months.

The blackout, stemming from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company’s disconnection of the hospital from the national grid, has caused significant disruptions in healthcare services and sparked widespread outrage among students, patients, and the community at large.

The Concerned Students’ Movement’s scathing statement reflects growing discontent with the Tinubu administration’s handling of the crisis and highlights the urgent need for action to restore power and stability to UCH.

It accused the government of being “anti-people” and having disregard for the welfare of Nigerians.

The students’ movement also criticized the University of Ibadan administration, led by Professor Kayode Adebowale, for its silence and hesitation to engage with students affected by the blackout.

The group’s statement reads: “Without electricity, modern healthcare services are severely compromised, putting lives at risk. Life-saving medical equipment, effective patient care, and the smooth operation of healthcare facilities are currently all under great compromise. It is, without equivocation, unfortunate that this has to be reiterated, over and again.

“As a movement, we strongly urge the University of Ibadan students to take a firmer stance on the UCH healthcare crisis. 

“As provided for in the University of Ibadan Students’ Union constitution, we call on the student community to initiate conscious-driven campaigns to prevail over the Federal Government’s negligence.

“We implore the leadership of the Students’ Union to convene an emergency Congress, where mass-based student support can be mobilized to prevail over the Federal Government. 

“We warn against and reject the false dichotomy between the blackout at UCH and the inadequate power supply on the main campus. Students must recognize that both are symptoms of a broader systemic failure.”

“We call on staff and labour unions like ASUU, NASU, SSANU, NAAT, NLC, TUC and JAF to equally make decisive grandstanding towards prevailing on the Government,” the group added.