The Rationing of Power Supply in UI, Will it get better?

by Aanuoluwapo Akande 

As most students have come to realize about UI's typical approach, lighting was quite inconsistent during the first semester exams. Nonetheless, UI students couldn’t definitively determine if the inadequate power supply was due to the typical exam light schedule, as the national grid failed multiple times throughout the examination period. However, if the national grid had not fallen apart during that period, would there have been a steady supply throughout the exam period? If UItes were to base their judgment on previous experiences, the response would have been No.  

  

Following the majority of exams, the majority of UI students anticipate the light pattern to return to what it would have been prior to the exams. This indicates a nearly constant provision of light. However, this has not been the case for the second semester of the 2024 academic session.  

  

Conversely, the pattern for the majority of this semester indicates that light is distributed sparingly during the day and often, there is a complete absence of light at night.  

  

Moreover, this is not what the majority of students anticipated. Perhaps, even more crucially, this is not what the majority of students desired. During interviews conducted for this article, some students mentioned that turning off the lights at night impacted their academic productivity. This is because a few of them are nocturnal wanderers. They like to read and work at night rather than during the day.  

  

For some, the uneven lighting hasn't significantly impacted their academic productivity, but what matters more to them is that they are getting bitten by mosquitoes, which tend to be active at night, making it hard to swat them away in the dark.  

 

 

For some students, the absence of light has made sleeping uncomfortable due to the heat, and several complained about the difficulty of charging their phones as they attended classes during the day. The night should provide a chance for them to recharge, but there is no longer a consistent supply of light after dark.  

  

Currently, students are certainly feeling discomfort due to this light pattern, but a key question to consider is: should students anticipate an improved light pattern or should they focus on adapting to the existing one?  

  

In order to obtain a knowledgeable response to this inquiry, FATSSSA press conducted an interview with the House Secretary, Mr. Elemide Daniel. To begin with, students are guaranteed that the student Union, specifically the house secretary, is aware of their circumstances and has been making definite plans.  

  

He contacted the school administration when he observed the alterations in the light pattern and brought this to their attention. The school administration, in turn, contacted the regional manager of IBEDC in Ibadan to implement alterations in the lighting pattern.  

  

However, as UI students would say, not much has changed since that time. As stated by Mr. Elemide, they will provide illumination for a night, and once it seems like they have won, they will revert to their regular routine of light rationing.  

 

This prompted him to meet with the school administration once more last Thursday. On this occasion, the vice Chancellor summoned the individuals at IBEDC before him, and once more, commitments were given to provide nighttime lighting so that UI students can study and rest peacefully.  

  

Now that the IBEDC has committed to providing students with electricity at night, should students expect them to follow through? It appears there has been nighttime illumination for 2 days, but should UI students trust that they will consistently receive adequate power supply?  

  

That cannot be determined as only time will reveal. For the time being, UItes can rely on the house secretary's statement, who mentioned, "the union will continue to exert pressure until our demands are satisfied."