Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone D, on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, Osun State, over persistent poor electricity supply across the region.
The students, who decried the impact of irregular power supply on academic activities in tertiary institutions, called for urgent intervention to address the situation.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “No electricity tariff increment,” “Increase power output,” and “Restore our electricity infrastructure,” the protesters gathered at the November 27 Bridge in Osogbo to express their grievances.
Speaking during the protest, the NANS South-West Coordinator, Josiah Adeyemo, said the demonstration was aimed at drawing attention to the worsening electricity crisis affecting campuses and communities.
“I am here with all the sister bodies of our association to register our displeasure over the current electricity crisis that has affected academic activities and daily life. Electricity remains a critical amenity that must not be overlooked,” he said.
Adeyemo acknowledged government efforts in stabilising the country but stressed that reliable power supply is essential to achieving meaningful development.
He warned that the association could escalate its actions if authorities fail to respond promptly to their demands.
“This is just a prelude. If there is no proper engagement from relevant authorities, we will be forced to embark on another mass protest in a few days. We will not back down until our voices are heard,” he added.
The student leader also called for improved strategies to tackle insecurity, referencing recent bomb explosions in Maiduguri, Borno State, which resulted in loss of lives and property.
In a related development, residents of Osogbo also protested at the Osun Regional Office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), demanding improved power supply.
The residents marched from Oke Baale through Station Road to the company’s office, where they issued a seven-day ultimatum for the restoration of affected communities to Band A electricity classification.
Tension heightened during the protest due to the presence of heavily armed security operatives stationed at the facility, as demonstrators chanted solidarity songs and expressed frustration over the persistent outages.
The residents warned that failure by the company to meet their demands within the stipulated timeframe could lead to further collective action, including restricting operational access for IBEDC personnel within the affected communities.
