From: Diana Okon-Effiong, CalabarThe University of Calabar (Unical) has been shut down for two weeks following a peaceful protest by students over scarcity of water and light in their hostels and better welfare.
The university’s management announced two-week shutdown of the institution in a statement signed by the Registrar of the institution, Mr Moses Abang, and made available to journalists on Monday in Calabar.
It stated that the break would help the university management to address issues raised by the students.
“The management of the University of Calabar has announced a two week mid-semester break for all students of the University with effect from today, 12th October, 2015. Students are expected to vacate the hostels on or before 6pm to enable management address the issues raised by the students. Normal academic activities would resume on Friday 30th October 2015. No students should be found on campus, especially within the hostels from 6pm today the statement reads,” Abang stated.
Earlier, the students hit the streets with placards protesting against the neglect of their welfare by Unical’s management.
The protest, which began at about 5.30 am, created panic as workers, traders and other road users were stranded along the adjoining streets linking the university including Etta Agbor, IBB Way and Mary Slessor roads.
Some of the placards read: “VC, give us water and light, students cannot study without light and water, electricity and water is our right, among others.
One of the students, Mr Emeka Ebere of the Physics Department, told journalists that the students have been staying without light and water in the hostels for more than three weeks now. Ebere also alleged that the school authority was doing nothing about their plight.
“Rats come to eat our legs when we sleep because everywhere is bushy and there is no light for more than three weeks now. Again, we have not had water for months now and students have to go long distances into the town to fetch water,” he said.
He also alleged that the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. James Epoke, was not concerned about students’ welfare because his tenure would expire by November this year.
Another student from the English and Linguistics department of the University, Miss Theresa Kahi, also said the Vice Chancellor was the reason for their protest.
“The last time we demonstrated within the school premises, they charged us for damages, but now we are protesting outside the school gate because we want water and light.We, the students of this school are tired of the attitude of the university management. The protest is to send a strong message to the VC that we need water and light inside the university,” she said.
But a detachment of Police personnel was stationed at the Mary Slessor/Marian roundabout, about 700 meters away from the main gate of the university.
Epoke told journalists that the students had the liberty to protest and assured that issues raised would be addressed.
“They are students and they have the right to protest. On the issue of light, I believe everyone in Calabar knows that they is power outage for weeks now.The issue of light has been a general problem, not only to the university alone but the entire Calabar, and we will try and supply them water,” Epoke said.
He had also assured that the school authority would not shut down the university because of the protest.
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