The authorities of the University of Benin on Thursday shut down academic activities in the institution indefinitely.

The university in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, attributed the decision to the refusal of the students to shift grounds on their demands.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the students on Wednesday took to the streets, blocking the ever-busy Benin-Ore Highway to protest weeks of power outages on campus.

The students, who had two weeks until their first-semester examination, said the situation was severely affecting their preparation.

The students also called for a downward review of transport fares by the UNIBEN shuttle service, which was increased with effect from July 1.

NAN reports that the university was thrown into a blackout by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) following the inability to reach an agreement over contentious electricity billings.

The monthly bill was said to have jumped from about N80 million to between N200 and N280 million, forcing the university to resort to power generators as well as rationalisation of power on the two campuses and hostels.

When a NAN correspondent spoke with the protesting students amidst heavy rainfall, they were hellbent on continuing the rampage unless their demands were met.

But in the notice of closure made available to NAN, Ehanire described the students’ demand for a 24-hour  supply of electricity as unrealistic.

“Following the insistence of students of the University of Benin to shift grounds on their demands for twenty-four hours 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,” said the university’s spokesperson.

(NAN)

The Nigeria Police Force, National Cybercrime Centre, said it has arrested a Nigerian prankster, in Abuja over threatening video pranks.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Thursday in Abuja, said that the prankster was arrested at an apartment in the Wuye area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to him, the arrest followed the circulation of accusatory videos on social media, in which the suspect was alleged to have committed heinous crimes, including rape.

The police spokesman said the videos had caused significant apprehension among social media users.

He said the suspect had claimed that the videos were scripted and that it was part of his attempt to regain the spotlight after a break.

“Regardless, such actions have serious implications and cannot be taken lightly,” the force PRO said.

Adejobi said that the Nigeria Police Force had remained committed to maintaining public safety and ensuring that individuals were held accountable for actions that incite fear or disturb public peace.

He therefore warned pranksters and content creators to be law-abiding and be conscious of pranks that could pose threats to the public and jeopardise the general security of the nation.

The police spokesman further urged the public to remain calm as the Nigeria Police Force proceeds with the necessary legal actions in the case.

(NAN)

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to inaugurate the construction work of the 1000-km Sokoto-Badagry Coastal Highway in August.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi disclosed this during a stakeholders engagement on the project in Birnin Kebbi.

Umahi said that he was directed by the president to come to Kebbi with some ministers and members of the National Assembly to unveil the scope of the project.

“The project is the old West African Trade Route, and the processes for the commencement of the construction of the 1000km six-lane super highway are in progress.

“Kebbi State has the lion’s share of the project, the first phase of construction will start here covering three lanes on each side of the road.

“120 kilometres section of the road lay in Sokoto State while 258 kilometres passes through Kebbi State, which is the largest beneficiary in the country.

“The super highway extends to Illela border town with Niger Republic in Sokoto State and down to Badagry in Lagos state,” he said.

The Minister added: “The Sokoto – Badagry corridor boasts of 53 dams that would be developed for Agriculture and electricity and serve as trade routes with other African countries.

“The super highway like the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, is an investment venture for Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

“There are lots of benefits, security, tourism, smooth transportation and industrial growth”.

Umahi also spoke on the construction of the 55km Gadar Zaima – Zuru road in Kebbi of which only six kilometres had been repaired.

According to him, though the road is an NNPC project, the progress of work has not been good.

“I have invited the contractor to Abuja for an explanation, it has been the behaviour of International contractors to abandon work after collecting payment, and we will no longer tolerate this unbecoming attitude.

“Any contractor who is given a project but cannot do it, the federal government will revoke the contract and re-award it to another company, we want to encourage our local contractors,” he said.

The minister explained that the government was also looking into the 87 km Koko – Mahuta – Dabai road of which only six kilometres were reconstructed.

“I have the power to revoke the contract, Gov. Nasir Idris recommended revoking the work and allowing the Kebbi government to carry out the work and seek reimbursement.

“The governor can lobby the President to seek for refund, you are dear to him,” Umahi said.

The minister said the federal government was also not happy about the pace of work on the Malando–Warrah road, explaining that appropriate action would be applied as a remedy.

(NAN)