- The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is facing ongoing power outages due to an accumulated electricity debt exceeding N600 million, prompting management to seek urgent solutions.
- Acting Vice Chancellor Polycarp Chigbu criticised the “outrageous” electricity bills from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company and urged the university community to remain calm as efforts to address the situation continue.
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is grappling with persistent power outages attributed to an accumulated electricity bill exceeding N600 million. In a memo dated September 30, 2024, Polycarp Chigbu, the acting vice-chancellor, addressed the issue, stating that the management is actively seeking solutions to the institution’s power crisis.
Chigbu described the electricity bill from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) as “outrageous” and unacceptable, especially in light of the university’s actual energy consumption. He noted that the university’s current electricity billing places it in the Band A consumption category, significantly increasing costs.
“The current electricity bills from the EEDC have continuously placed us on Band A consumption line, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s indebtedness stands at over N600,000,000.00 as of mid-August 2024,” the memo stated. Chigbu emphasised that this financial burden is beyond the university’s adequate management capacity.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the university management has escalated the matter to higher authorities and urged the university community to remain calm during this challenging period. “We appeal to all to be calm and bear with the situation as management continues to strive, within the limits of available resources, to provide electricity power in the interim,” he added.
The memo highlighted that the management is exploring alternative resources to mitigate the power shortages faced on campus. This situation comes on the heels of a federal government-approved increase in electricity tariffs for customers classified under Band A, which took effect on April 3. Under the new tariff structure, Band A customers are expected to receive up to 20 hours of electricity daily at N225 per kilowatt, a substantial increase from the previous N66 rate.
This tariff hike has sparked outrage among Nigerians, particularly in regions where residents feel the impact of increased costs without a corresponding improvement in service. In Lagos State, residents recently protested against their “forceful migration” to the Band A category by the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company, expressing frustration over the lack of reliable power supply despite the higher fees.
As the University of Nigeria continues to deal with its electricity challenges, the management calls for understanding and patience from the university community while seeking urgent resolutions to restore a stable power supply and manage its financial obligations effectively.