Shama Hostels' Unending Blackout — A Crisis Threatening UDUS Students' Academic Success

As the new academic session begins, it is disheartening that Shama Village, one of the private hostels located within the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), has once again been plunged into darkness due to a prolonged power outage. 

Quite distressing, we are now finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the frustrating challenges stemming from the persistent blackout, which has not only become a recurring predicament, but also a horrible grim and unending nightmare at every academic session. 

From waking up every morning to trek far distance places just to fetch water to enduring the night of darkness at hostel and, through affording the cost of charging gadgets, our regrettable sufferings in this resident deeply bears a far-reaching consequences to our academics. 

Many of us who often missed lectures when we could not get water to take our bath, find it very hard to catch up. On the same token, the absence of light in the hostel makes us feel disinclined to read, so also when our phones run down battery, our soft copy materials become inaccessible to read, especially when we don't have money to take it for charging. 

But for how long should we continue to bear all that?

The tragedy of all these, of course, goes beyond a mere discomfort; it poses a serious academic setback. Missing lectures as a result of any of these circumstances, means jeopardising our attendance requirements or risking our chance to perform well in exams. This may ultimately even trigger carryover which inflicts an overbearing stress or derail our academic progress altogether. 

And despite our repeated series of press reports demanding light at Shamma village hostels, our pleas are ignored, dismissed, and overlooked. We’re left to endure oppressive, deplorable conditions, raising serious questions about the university management’s responsibility to protect students’ rights and well‑being.

In the same vein, the Students Union has done nothing with respect to this light problem. They have been keeping silent as if their responsibility does not include safeguarding the rights and privilege of students. Even more disappointing, we often write to the office of the S.U. welfare directors hoping for their swift intervention but received no positive outcome.

Consequently, our constant pleas are turned to deaf ear both from the management and the administrative governance of the Students Union. This also raised concern about whether we have student representatives that really care to take cause of action as and when necessary in fighting to protect the needs and aspirations of their fellow students. 

However, our demand is simple: we want light to be restored at Shamma village in order to end our suffering. We shell out for private hostels seeking comfortability and conducive learning space at the cost of high price, yet we're deprived of those necessities that ease studies as if we are asking for luxuries beyond our rental price.

We, despite our unheard voices, appeal to the university management and Students’ Union for swift intervention. With Ramadan fast approaching, the darkness will worsen our hardship and deepen our frustration. So, this time we request urgent action and await a positive response.