Students lament prolonged power outage in Unimaid
Story from Maimunat MOHAMMED
Students of the University of Maiduguri (Unimaid) and residents of Mairi Kuwait community in Borno State have decried the persistent power outage that continues to grip the area.
The prolonged blackout, which has lasted for over two months in the community and more than three weeks on campus, has led to water supply disruptions which has made life difficult for the students.
Expressing their concerns, the students fear the negative impact of the power outage on their upcoming examinations.
With the lack of electricity, students have resorted to spending approximately N500 daily to charge their phones and other essential devices.
According to Punch, one student from the Department of Mass Communication, Esther, lamented the situation and said, “Those in the community too also buy water from hawkers. Since this water scarcity started, the usual reading at night has become an issue, and you know our examinations are just a few weeks away. We need those responsible to come to our aid.”
Amina Husseini, a 300-Level student of Business Administration who resides off-campus, highlighted the financial burden on students due to charging expenses. “For over two months now, this issue of light in the school community is affecting everyone. We have all become desperate because our examinations are approaching. Many students enjoy reading late at night. This has affected them,” she explained.
The school Registrar, Ahmad Lawan, revealed that the blackout on campus is a result of a payment dispute between the university and the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC).
In an official statement titled “Disconnection of power supply by the Yola Electricity Distribution Company,” Lawan acknowledged the issue and its consequences.
The University of Maiduguri community awaits a resolution to the payment dispute and restoration of reliable power supply, as students strive to cope with the challenges posed by the ongoing blackout ahead of their imminent exams.
The university management has also provided further details regarding the ongoing payment dispute with the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC). According to the university, they have made substantial payments towards electricity bills, including N34.5 million for February 2023 and N47 million for January and March 2023.
However, for the month of April 2023, YEDC presented a bill totaling N48,702,256.88. In an effort to maintain uninterrupted power supply, the university sought to make an advance payment for April. Unfortunately, YEDC insisted on full payment, leading to the current impasse.
While addressing the situation, the management urged both staff and students to exercise patience as they work towards resolving the matter. They said there is an ongoing negotiation with YEDC to find a mutually beneficial solution.
“The university remains committed to ensuring a conducive learning environment for its students and is exploring all possible avenues to resolve the payment dispute and restore regular power supply to the campus.
Both the university administration and the students hope for a swift resolution that will alleviate the challenges posed by the prolonged power outage and allow academic activities to proceed unhindered.