FUOYE students shut down FERMA, BEDC offices in Ekiti to protest bad road killing students, 6-year power blackout
Angered by the deplorable condition of Oye-lkole axis of the federal road in Ekiti State, and the over 6 six power blackout in Oye community, hundreds of students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti(FUOYE) on Monday protested at the offices of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency(FERMA) and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) state headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, state capital of Ekiti State.
The students in their large numbers stormed the premises of the FERMA and BEDC offices in Ado-Ekiti, with placards with different inscriptions where they paralyzed activities in the office.Some of the placards read, ‘ Enough is Enough ‘ , President Tinubu Save FUOYE Students Life’ , ‘ FG reconstruct Oye – Ikole road Now ‘ , Our Voices Must Be Heard ‘ , ‘ Stop Neglecting Our Plights’ FERMA in Ekiti is Useless’ among others.
Speaking on behalf of the protesting students, the Student Union president, Mary Abiodun explained that the poor condition of the federal road has led to the death of students and staff of the university.She explained that due to the deplorable condition of the road, no fewer than ten students of the institution have died in road crashes.
She said the students demand an urgent commencement of the reconstruction of the road within the next two days, failure would lead to total shutdown of the expressway.
Abiodun said, ” The Oye-Ekiti Federal Road is a crucial link between the nation’s capital, Abuja, and several southwestern states, including Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, and Ondo. This road is heavily trafficked by large vehicles such as petroleum tankers and 18-wheel trucks transporting goods, including Dangote Cement and Mikano Trailers.” Tragically, this road has been in disrepair for an extended period, leading to numerous accidents, loss of lives, and untold hardships.
As a responsive Union prioritizing the safety of its members, we cannot tolerate FERMA’s negligence, which endangers the lives of FUOYE students, staff, and the local community.
Immediate action is imperative. We can no longer endure the brutal loss of our students due to improper road maintenance and the absence of necessary palliatives. We can’t take it anymore.” The Federal Government should initiate a comprehensive reconstruction project to transform the Oye-Ekiti Federal Road into a safe, modern, and durable highway.” Failure to adhere to ur demands will result to massive protests at the FERMA office, Ado.
We would ensure no moving in or out. We must ensure blockage measures are in place that make the road untraffikable for heavy trucks. ” We call on all the National Students Association Bodies, Alutarian, all Students Union Governments, students, staff, and concerned citizens to join us in protesting FERMA’s negligence and demanding urgent action from the Federal Government. ” We will not stand idly by while lives continue to be endangered, dreams keep getting cut off and hope of families been buried.
We demand a immediately actions for safeguarding and keeping the future and Leaders of our great nation, Nigeria.”
Addressing the protesting students, the Federal Road Maintenance Engineer in FERMA, Simon Adeniyi who commended the students for the peaceful demonstration, sympathized with them over the demise of the students.Adeniyi who disclosed that the Federal Executive Council has approved the reconstruction of the road, assuring them that the contractor would soon be on site.
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI STUDENTS’ UNION GOVERNMENT POSITION PAPER: ADDRESSING FERMA’S NEGLIGENCE ON OYE-EKITI FEDERAL ROAD
The Students’ Union Government of Federal University Oye-Ekiti, under the leadership of Lady Comrade Abiodun Olorunshola Mary, vehemently condemns the deplorable condition of the Oye-Ekiti Federal Road. This road has become a daily death trap for students, staff, and the indigenous people of Oye-Ekiti.
Despite numerous attempts to highlight this critical issue, FERMA’s inaction has jeopardized the safety and well-being of road users, recently resulting in the tragic death of our beloved alumnus, Ohonsi Williams Ehigie.BACKGROUNDThe Oye-Ekiti Federal Road is a crucial link between the nation’s capital, Abuja, and several southwestern states, including Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, and Ondo. This road is heavily trafficked by large vehicles such as petroleum tankers and 18-wheel trucks transporting goods, including Dangote Cement and Mikano Trailers.
Tragically, this road has been in disrepair for an extended period, leading to numerous accidents, loss of lives, and untold hardships. As a responsive Union prioritizing the safety of its members, we cannot tolerate FERMA’s negligence, which endangers the lives of FUOYE students, staff, and the local community. Immediate action is imperative. We can no longer endure the brutal loss of our students due to improper road maintenance and the absence of necessary palliatives. WE CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!
OUR DEMANDS
Given the severe harm caused to our student population, resulting in the loss of over 10 students in fatal accidents, the Leadership of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti Students’ Union Government (FUOYESUG) hereby issues a 48-hour ultimatum to FERMA and the Federal Government to address the following:
1. Immediate Repair and Maintenance: FERMA must urgently repair and maintain the Oye-Ekiti Federal Road to ensure its motorability and safety, including covering all potholes and making necessary repairs.
2. Provision of Palliatives: FERMA should provide temporary palliatives, such as alternative routes, traffic management systems, and emergency services, to alleviate the suffering of road users and curb the fatal accidents that have resulted in the loss of lives.
3. Compensation for Victims: FERMA and the Federal Government should provide adequate compensation to the families of victims who have lost their lives or suffered injuries due to the road’s poor condition, supporting them in their time of loss and mitigating the impact of these tragedies.
4. Regular Maintenance Schedule: FERMA should establish a regular maintenance schedule to prevent future deterioration of the road and ensure its long-term sustainability.
5. Comprehensive Reconstruction: Following the immediate actions outlined above, the Federal Government should initiate a comprehensive reconstruction project to transform the Oye-Ekiti Federal Road into a safe, modern, and durable highway.
CALL TO ACTION!!!
Failure to adhere to ur demands will result to massive protests at the FERMA office, Ado. We would ensure no moving in or out. We must ensure blockage measures are in place that make the road untraffikable for heavy trucks. We call on all the National Students Association Bodies, Alutarian, all Students Union Governments, students, staff, and concerned citizens to join us in protesting FERMA’s negligence and demanding urgent action from the Federal Government.
We will not stand idly by while lives continue to be endangered, dreams keep getting cut off and hope of families been buried. We demand a immediately actions for safeguarding and keeping the future and Leaders of our great nation, Nigeria.
SIGNED:FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI STUDENTS’ UNION GOVERNMENT.FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI,OYE-EKITI, EKITI STATE.
CC:Federal University Oye Ekiti Management board. Ekiti State Government Ministry of Works. Federal Ministry Of Work Of Nigeria. NANS. NANS Southwest(Zone D).All Concerned Citizens. NAUS.
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI STUDENTS’ UNION GOVERNMENT POSITION PAPER: ADDRESSING IBEDC EKITI’S POWER OUTAGES IN OYE-EKITI CAMPUS, IKOLE-EKITI CAMPUS, AND STUDENT-INHABITED AREAS
The Students’ Union Government of Federal University Oye-Ekiti vehemently condemns the persistent and crippling power outages affecting Oye-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti, and surrounding student-inhabited areas. Despite repeated pleas and a tragic protest in 2019 that claimed the lives of two precious students, Icon and Kenny, IBEDC has failed to provide stable electricity, denying justice to the affected communities.
BACKGROUND
Since the establishment of our university, students and host communities have endured unbearable electricity shortages, severely hindering academic productivity, health, safety, and overall well-being. These shortages also stand as a significant constraint to the development of both Oye-Ekiti and Ikole-Ekiti, preventing many industrial activities in the community.
The 2019 protest, sparked by these outages, resulted in the loss of two students, and justice remains elusive as the electricity crisis continues unaddressed. As student-dominated communities, we deserve an adequate supply of electricity to fulfill our primary obligations as students. The crises our students have experienced due to electricity shortages are countless.
DEMANDS
We issue a 48-hour ultimatum to IBEDC Ekiti to address the following:
1. Immediate Restoration of Stable Electricity: IBEDC must take urgent steps to restore reliable and uninterrupted power supply to Oye-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti, and surrounding student-inhabited areas. This includes installing electricity poles where needed and placing mini-transformers at strategic locations to ensure a constant supply of electricity.
2. Comprehensive Infrastructure Upgrade: IBEDC should initiate a thorough upgrade of its distribution infrastructure to prevent future power outages and ensure long-term sustainability, ensuring that students who pay electricity bills receive value for their money.
3. Compensation and Justice for 2019 Victims: IBEDC and relevant authorities should provide adequate compensation to the families of the two students who lost their lives during the 2019 protest and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
CALL TO ACTION
Failure to meet these demands within 48 hours will compel us to embark on peaceful protests, rallies, and the shutdown of major roads until our demands are met. We are students, citizens, and the leaders of tomorrow in this nation. We demand justice through stable electricity in Oye-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti, and all student-inhabited areas.
