UNILAG College Of Medicine Students Protest Electricity Disconnection

Students from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG), protested today after Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDC) disconnected electricity at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) due to unpaid bills.

Jul 5, 2024 - 16:48

UNILAG College Of Medicine Students Protest Electricity Disconnection

Students from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG), staged a protest today following the disconnection of electricity by Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDC) due to unpaid bills by the University management.

Sources familiar with the situation revealed that EKEDC disconnected the electricity supply to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) last Thursday owing to outstanding bills. The management reportedly made payments of N80 million on Thursday and an additional N50 million on Friday in response to the disconnection.

However, despite the N130 million payment, an outstanding bill of N145 million remains unresolved. The dispute centers on whether the remaining balance should be covered jointly by LUTH and the College of Medicine or solely by the teaching hospital.

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Previously, LUTH used its power plant but switched to EKEDC due to cost concerns and accumulated debts. The combined bill now exceeds N250 million, with the College of Medicine having settled its portion.

Videos from the protest depict students chanting slogans demanding the restoration of electricity, underscoring the disruption caused by the power outage on campus.

This development mirrors recent unrest at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), where students protested prolonged power outages, leading to the indefinite shutdown of academic activities. The students cited disrupted exam preparations and protested an increase in transport fares by the university shuttle service.