27/04/2025
Prolonged Blackout: Private Hostel Residents Face Multidimensional Suffering.
By AbdulFatah Muhammad,
Since 23rd of March, 2025, a prolonged and distressing power outage has haunted parts of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Main Campus community, particularly the areas of Benji, Shama, 80K, and neighboring axes, which has casted them into a terrifying and horrendous blackout that continues to disrupt their daily life.
This blackout has hit so hard on students living in private hostels like Benji, Shama, 80K, and nearby hostels including the villagers and small business owners as their daily lives depend on a stable power supply. For them, it's more than just darkness, but also a constant discomfort, disrupted routines, and a growing sense of helplessness.
Psychological Darkness upon Physical Darkness.
Beyond the blackout itself, there’s another form of darkness. The one that stems from not knowing the cause of the persistent blackout. The absence of clear information and official explanations has left residents dwelling in uncertainty. It’s not just the lights that are out; it’s the clarity, the communication, and the reassurance people need to hold on. And in that silence, frustration emanates.
As the blackout continued, several rumors have been circulating about its cause. One rumor claimed an explosion at the transformer was the cause, while another suggested the blackout was due to an outstanding debt of 13 million Naira owed by individuals living in that community to the electricity distribution company. The uncertainty surrounding the situation has left the victims unable to predict how much longer they will have to endure the darkness.
To make matters worse, the caretaker and hostel landlords have made no attempts to address the issue or provide any clear communication, which only deepened the sense of frustration and helplessness in victims.
In an attempt to uncover the true cause of the outage, the General Secretary of the Benji Masjid, Abideen AbdulMalik was contacted. He explained that, “Shama’s transformer had a fault and has been taken for repair, but Benji’s connection was deliberately disconnected for reasons known to only the electricity distribution company, the Benji landlord, and the caretaker”.
For further clarity, the Social Welfare Director of the Student Caretaker Committee (SU-CTC), Muhammad Aminu Kalgo said: “We’ve contacted the Dean of Student Affairs, and he said that a meeting will be held which will involve caretakers and landlords from both Benji and Shama, along with the SU-CTC, to properly address this matter.”
Dark Voices: Students Recount Suffering
As the blackout persists, its effect is felt in different ways by the students, from disrupted academic schedules to the inconvenience of daily life, each student has a unique story to tell, some bearing the suffering more than others. Here are some of their experiences, each revealing the multifaceted toll this blackout has taken on their lives.
Protracted Water Scarcity.
“I stay in Benji, but I have to trek all the way to Prometric to get clean water for drinking, cooking and bathing”. He laments.
Yusuf Muhammad-Baqir, a UG I student who stays in Benji, shares the exhausting reality of life without electricity. Lamenting his frustration, he described how he now has to trek long distances just to fetch water.
“The worst part is that after all that stress, what I bring back is not always enough to meet my needs for the day. So, I have to go there everyday”, he added.
The water scarcity has become a common struggle for all student who reside in the affected community. Students are often seen, day and night, trooping in groups, trekking in different directions, carrying kegs and buckets, all in search of water. Yet, not all of these searches end successfully. Some student return empty-handed, having walked long distances only to find dry taps or dirty water from overcrowded wells. The desperation on their faces, under the blazing sun, talks about the suffering that goes far beyond inconvenience. It is a daily suffering driven by necessity, not choice.
Academic Disruption
For Maryam Sani Uba, a UG I student, the blackout has not only disrupted her comfort but also threatened her academic performance.
“We are doing tests and exams are coming, but I’ve not been able to read very well because there is no light to read,” she said.
When asked if she relied on her phone or a rechargeable lamp, she replied frustratingly: “My phone and lamp are not always well charged because there is no light. I just pray I don’t fail the exam.” Like many other students, Maryam is caught between academic demands and a blackout that has stolen both her focus and her tools for learning.
Her story is justified as many students now rely on lecture halls and class buildings within the university to study. Every evening, areas like MH and A-Classes are filled with students hunched over books and devices, clinging to the school’s power supply to prepare for their tests and exams. Some stay as late as midnight, enduring mosquito bites and discomfort just to stay afloat academically and get their gadget charged. It’s a silent hustle that speaks loud about their determination and the depth of the hardship they face.
Cooking and Feeding Struggles.
“For the past 18 days now, I've not been eating well. It's either I drink garri or I eat denkeli (fried potatoes). For how long will this continue?” Sh*ttu Nafeesah, a UG I student, laments bitterly.
Her situation is worsened because she doesn't have a gas cooker, as she thought it was not allowed. And she could not even afford to waste her time cooking with a coal pot.
It’s clear that her struggles aren’t unique. Many other students have been seen frequenting the spots where fried potatoes are sold at Benji. The area is now busier than usual. The rise in patronage of these potato sellers shows that more student are going for fast meals, a clear evidence that the blackout is affecting everyone in similar ways.
Countless stories have been shared, highlighting the multidimensional suffering students are have faced by the blackout. Sufferings ranging from unbearable heat and water scarcity to disrupted routines and digital disconnection. These challenges, though varied, all stem from the same cause: a persistent and ongoing power outage, with an unknown cause and no sign of soon ending.
A Plea for Intervention.
As the blackout continues to drag on, the affected students cry out their pain, lament bitterly and call for immediate intervention from both the university administration and the relevant authorities. The situation has reached a point where students can no longer bear the weight of the daily struggles. It is crucial that a resolution be found, whether through quick restoration of the power supply or the provision of alternative solutions. The persistence of this power outage has left students feeling helpless, and it is clear that immediate action is needed to prevent further disruption to their education and well-being.
Photo Credit: Pen Press UDUS
