In an unprecedented move, the Concerned Students’ Movement of the University of Ibadan has lashed out at the administration of President Bola Tinubu for its failure to address a devastating 100-day power outage at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan—Nigeria’s first teaching hospital.
In a statement issued on Sunday, titled 100 Days of Darkness, the student group, led by Coordinator Aduwo Ayodele, sharply criticized the government for what they termed a “reckless disregard” for the lives of Nigerians, particularly the students and patients directly affected by the crisis.
“We can no longer stand by and watch as lives are jeopardized due to the government’s utter negligence. This blackout has left thousands vulnerable, especially the critically ill who rely on electricity to survive,” Ayodele stated.
The blackout at UCH has been ongoing since the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) severed power supply to the hospital in November 2024 due to a staggering ₦495 million debt owed by the facility. Despite the grave nature of the situation, the hospital, which serves as a critical referral center for southwestern Nigeria, has been unable to restore a stable power supply.
This power failure has posed severe challenges, particularly in critical care areas like the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where patients rely on life-saving equipment that operates solely on electricity. “It’s shocking to see that this hospital, which is supposed to offer the highest level of medical care, has been in darkness for so long. The risks to patients are enormous,” said a source at UCH, speaking on condition of anonymity.
SaharaReporters recently visited the ICU and witnessed harrowing scenes of relatives of critically ill patients using handheld fans to cool themselves. “Some of us had to bring in our rechargeable fans, but the situation is beyond unbearable. The hospital is not only dark but dangerously hot,” one distressed relative commented.
Student groups have expressed outrage over the situation, urging both the state and federal governments to prioritize the restoration of power to the hospital. The Concerned Students’ Movement’s statement emphasized the broader implications of this issue, calling it a direct result of government inaction.
“It is beyond the blackout at UCH; it is a symptom of a larger systemic failure,” the group asserted. “From the main campus to the hospital, we see a consistent disregard for the welfare of Nigerians, particularly those who need healthcare the most.”
The university students are also raising concerns over the University of Ibadan administration’s response—or lack thereof. According to Ayodele, the university leadership, headed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Kayode Adebowale, has been noticeably quiet on the matter, failing to engage with students or take a firm stance on the growing healthcare crisis at UCH.
“It is disheartening that our university leadership, who should be our greatest allies, has turned a blind eye to this critical issue,” the statement read. “We expected them to stand with the students and demand that the government act quickly, but their silence is deafening.”
In response to the prolonged blackout, the Concerned Students’ Movement has called for immediate action from all stakeholders. They have urged the University of Ibadan Students’ Union (UI SU) to mobilize student support for a mass-driven campaign to put pressure on the government to restore power to UCH.
“We call on the leadership of the Students’ Union to convene an emergency Congress and involve the wider student body in campaigns aimed at ending this injustice,” Ayodele said. “We must fight for the restoration of power, not just for the hospital but for the entire campus and for the future of our health services.”
The student body’s call for action also extends to labor unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and other key stakeholders, urging them to join forces to demand that the government address the crisis.
“The silence of the unions on this matter is not only worrying but also dangerous,” Ayodele stated. “We need all hands on deck. ASUU, NASU, SSANU, NLC, TUC, and JAF must all act now to push the government to act responsibly.”
The blackout has drawn public attention not only to the dire condition of UCH but also to the country’s chronic infrastructure issues, which have been exacerbated under the Tinubu administration. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to express their anger and frustration at the government’s inability to resolve the crisis, calling for urgent reforms in the country’s power sector.
Professor Adebowale’s office has yet to release an official statement addressing the concerns raised by the students and the public about the blackout. However, sources within the university suggest that there have been ongoing negotiations with the IBEDC to resolve the debt issue, though no concrete solution has emerged thus far.
As UCH battles with a life-threatening power failure, the national conversation continues to highlight the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s growing healthcare infrastructure crisis. Patients and medical staff alike are left to bear the brunt of this avoidable disaster, while government officials seem to remain indifferent.
“It’s appalling that, in the year 2025, a hospital of UCH’s stature should be left to suffer from something as basic as electricity supply,” said a public health expert, who requested anonymity. “If the Tinubu government can’t fix something as fundamental as this, it raises serious questions about its commitment to improving the country’s healthcare system.”
