By Damilare Adeleye

The management of the University of Benin has suspended academic activities indefinitely, ordering the students to vacate their hostels with immediate effect.

In statement issued on Thursday by Benedicta Ehanire, the institution’s Public Relations officer, the university said non-teaching staff and staff on essential duties are not affected by the shutdown.

The statement read, “Following the refusal of students of the University of Benin to shift grounds on their demands for 24-hour supply of electricity and more, considered unrealistic by the university’s Senate, the university has shut down academic activities indefinitely.

“Students are to vacate the hostels immediately while all the relevant units of the university are to take note and comply.

“However, non-teaching staff and staff on essential duties are not affected by the shutdown.”

The students of the institution protested on Wednesday over the rationing of electricity, among other grievances.

They blocked the Benin-Ore highway, which caused gridlock and untold hardship to commuters.

Some of the students said that they would not leave the highway until their demands were met.

However, the Senate of the institution held a meeting on Wednesday in order to meet with the students to see how the issue can be resolved.

The BEDC PLC recently disconnected the institution as a result of the bill of over N250 million slammed on the institution by the electricity company.

The institution was formerly paying N80 million, and it has not been able to afford the new bill, which caused a blackout in the school and brought hardship to the students.