Adamawa Poly shuts down as students storm streets over 3-month power outage

Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola, was forced to shut down operations on Monday after enraged students took to the streets to protest a persistent power outage that has crippled academic and residential life on campus for over three months. 

The demonstration, initially peaceful, quickly escalated into a disruptive scene, spilling into surrounding areas and prompting security intervention.

Chanting “We want electricity,” the students accused the school management and government of gross neglect, citing the collapse of basic amenities as a direct assault on their right to education and dignity.

“Our studies are suffering. It’s our right to have basic amenities like electricity, water, and shelter,” a protesting student declared, visibly agitated.

Another student, equally distraught, said, “We can’t study effectively at night, we can’t sleep properly due to the intense heat, and we have to search for water outside the campus to bathe.”

The protest reportedly turned chaotic when some demonstrators clashed with unsuspecting members of the public, leading to the swift deployment of police personnel to restore order.

In response, the Acting Registrar of the polytechnic, Mr. Simnawa Ayuba, announced an immediate, week-long closure of the institution, citing the need for calm and time to liaise with the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC).

“Sequel to the demonstration by students on the main campus demanding the immediate restoration of power by YEDC, I wish to inform all students that the institution has been closed for one week. This is to enable the management to process the restoration of light,” Ayuba stated.

This is the second student-led protest in under a year at Adamawa Polytechnic, underscoring a growing frustration over worsening living conditions particularly the lack of electricity and water which students claim is severely undermining their academic pursuit.

As of press time, neither the institution’s management nor the state government had issued a concrete plan addressing the students’ demands.